Women’s swimming team defeats Saint Mary’s, 146-102

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's swimming team had the fastest time in 11-of-14 events en route to a 146-102 win over Saint Mary's (Ind.) College tonight in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) dual meet at the Upton Center Pool in Olivet.

The Comets got off to a fast start by winning the 200 medley relay. The quartet of sophomore Jacalyn Cordero (Holland), freshman Kaitlin Smith (Port Huron), senior Caitlin Lohr (Holland/Hamilton) and freshman Jazmin Johnson (Grand Rapids/Northview) finished in 1:55.98.

Olivet then took the top two spots in the 1,000 freestyle. Senior Jessica Howard (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) led the way in 11:11.35, followed by freshman Shana Bush (Alma) in 11:25.19. Johnson won her first individual event, the 200 freestyle, in  2:03.71.

Smith helped the Comets finish 1-2-3 in the 100 backstroke. She stopped the clock first at 1:03.12, followed by sophomore Alivia Hammond (Byron Center) at 1:04.11 and Cordero at 1:06.25.

Junior Jana Blodgett (Sturgis) was Olivet's highest finisher in the 100 breaststroke, as she placed second in 1:20.50. Sophomore Kristin Long (Pemberville, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy) was the winner in the 200 butterfly. Her time of 2:25.78 was more than seven seconds faster than the second-place finisher.

Lohr narrowly missed setting a pool record with her winning time of 24.69 seconds in the 50 freestyle. Johnson finished in first-place in the 100 freestyle in 54.80 seconds.

Another 1-2-3 Comet finish was in the 200 backstroke. Smith won in 2:21.30, followed by Hammond (2:27.03) and Long (2:27.32). Blodgett also placed second in the 200 breaststroke, 2:54.93, for Olivet's best finish.

Howard won her second distance freestyle event, winning the 500 in 5:29.63. Lohr earned the top spot in the 100 butterfly at 1:02.51. The Comets capped their win with a first-place time in 400 freestyle relay. Howard, Bush, Blodgett and Lohr touched the wall at 3:53.32.

Olivet next swims Saturday when it hosts Alma College. Action gets under way at 1 p.m. from the Upton Center Pool.