MINNEAPOLIS – Junior Rachel Schlueter recorded an All-MIAC performance by placing third in the 50 free and was part of the 400-medley relay that finished fifth to highlight the performances of the College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team on day two of the MIAC Championship at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota on Thursday, Feb. 20.

Schlueter was part of two performances that rank in the top four all-time at CSB. During day two, the Bennies put together a series of career-best and season-best performances.

Schlueter, a junior standout from Elk River, Minn., finished third in the 50 freestyle with a clocking of 24.16, which was not only a career-best but ranks fourth all-time at CSB (Brita Skalbeck, 2012, 24.22). Schlueter was joined in the top-eight of the 50-free by sophomore Mary Morris, who was eighth with a clocking of 24.61 in the finals. However, she had a season-best clocking of 24.52 in the prelims.

In the 400-medley relay, Schuleter, junior Megan Bartels, sophomore Claire Canfield and sophomore Mary Morris placed fifth with a time of 3:58.47, which ranks second in school history just behind the clocking 3:56.57 in 2022 (Slavik, Birklid, Milstroh, Wagner).

In 3-meter diving, sophomore Ella Kowalczyk placed sixth with a career-high total of 334.70.

The Bennies also had a strong effort in the 200 IM as Canfield had a seventh-place finish. She clocked a season-best 2:12.14 in the event, which bettered her previous mark by .51. Three other CSB swimmers had season-bests in the 200 IM, including junior Megan Bartels, 21^st, 2:18.86; sophomore Jayda Alholm, 23^rd, 2:20.64; and sophomore Anna Boomgaarden, 32^nd, 2:32.77. Each of the three swimmers in the prelims cut off at least two seconds off their previous best.

CSB also earned points in the 500-free as junior Morgan Stout was 15^th in a season-best 5:26.48 as she cut 17 seconds off her season-best. Three other CSB swimmers also had season-bests including sophomore Josey Jackson, 22^nd, 5:40.42 (cut 14 seconds off her best); first-year Autumn Larson, 23^rd, 5:41.52 (four seconds off her best) and first-year Natalie Pfau, 24^th, 5:42.55 (15 seconds off her best time).

Gustavus leads the MIAC Championship with 231 points, followed by Macalester with 226.5 points and St. Olaf is third with 210. In fourth place at the championship is St. Catherine with 175 points followed by Carleton with 173.5 and St. Benedict, 146 points. In seventh place, Hamline has 84 points and Concordia is eighth, 82. 

The competition continues on Friday with morning prelim sessions set for 10:30 a.m. (doors open at 9:00 a.m.). The evening championship sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m.