Women's swimming start season with a splash

FREMONT, NEB. – Mustang swimmers started the season off at the Fremont YMCA with a dual against Midland University. This meet was a fast one, and not just in the pool, as the pace of the events made for a quick day with Midland coming out on top, 156-84.

The lineup of events was not like any other meet, with swimmers waiting behind the blocks all day, racing through events faster than any other typical meet.

The women's 400 medley relay of Maddy Slaughter, Grace Hozerland, Mackenzie Campbell, and Megan Keller kicked off the day with a second place finish touching at 4:27.67.

Kirstin Verplanke was the leader for Morningside in the distance events. In the 1000-yard freestyle Verplanke swam a time of 12:15.34 for third place, and finished a good second place in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:58.37. Emma Larsen finished in third place just two seconds behind Verplanke with a time of 6:01.76.

Larsen also represented Morningside well in the 200-yard freestyle event placing second with a time of 2:14.06.

The sprint events are always a close finish, a fact that was on display as Josie Dike and Makenna Laher took third and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle, touching in 26.65 and 26.94 seconds. In the 100-yard freestyle Dike touched the wall at 59.25 for second place and Keller took third place just half of a second behind Dike.

In the final event of the day the women's 200 freestyle relay of Dike, Campbell, Keller, and Laher took a solid second place with a time of 1:46.84.

Morningside will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 5 participating in the Iowa Lakes Community College Invitational.

Recap by Josie Dike