The College of Saint Benedict Swimming and Diving team gave a strong performance at the MIAC Championships this past weekend at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, placing sixth with 336.5 points. Gustavus won the meet with 792 points, followed by St. Olaf with 668 points and Carleton took third with 484 points. 

 

First-year Ellen Dean (Bothell, WA, Henry M. Jackson) finished first in the 200 yard butterfly with a record time of 2:08.86, a new MIAC record as well as a new meet record. Dean crushed the previous record by 6/100ths of a second, a time of 2:08.92 set in 1990.

 

The Blazer 400 yard freestyle relay team also set a new school record of 3:36.18, giving the team 26 well-deserved points.

 

First-year Lauren Kessler (Plymouth, MN, Maple Grove)placed fifth in the 1650 yard freestyle, earning the Blazers 14 points with a time of 17:57.42, just before sophomore Mary Wood (Rochester, MN, Lourdes), who finished 10th with a 18:25.86.  

 

Another first-year Emily Roberts (Eden Prairie, MN, Benilde-St. Margaret's) placed seventh in the 200 yard backstroke, clocking in at 2:10.55.

 

The Blazers finished strong in sixth place, and are looking forward to the 2011-2012 season, eager to compete again.