BIDDEFORD, MAINE - The Mount Holyoke Swimming and Diving team picked up a bevy of first places finishes in an exciting 137-125 victory over the University of New England on Saturday. The Lyons were paced by senior Katie Tyler (Hadley, Mass./Hopkins Academy), who posted four first place finishes, including a UNE pool record in the 50-yard butterfly. MHC ended the meet with a pool record in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The Lyons opened up the meet in impressive fashion, swimming to a first place finish in the 200-yard medley relay in a time of 1:58.22. The team comprised of senior Anne Kuenning (Bow, N.H., Bow), sophomore Bri Groves (Reston, Va./South Lakes), Tyler, and junior Topaz Mukulu (Nairobi, Kenya/Brookhouse International) finished almost three seconds in front of the Nor'Easters.
In the 1,000-yard free, first year Natalie Burkett (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) earned a second place finish, posting a time of 12:14.59. Senior Emily Craig (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili Senior) swam to a victory in the 200-yard free. She notched a time of 2:05.69, while Kuenning followed up with a win in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 30.61.
In the 50-yard back, sophomore Kate Flaherty (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough Regional) swam to second overall with a time of 35.47, while in the 100-yard butterfly, Groves touched the wall first in a time of 1:03.74.
The Lyons performed well in the 50-yard free, seeing three swimmers finish in the top-five. Tyler led the way in first, posting a time of 26.18. Mukulu finished in third with a time of 28.41, while Flaherty touched the wall in a time of 29.02 for fifth.
Craig earned her second, first place finish of the day in the 100-yard free, swimming to a time of 57.76. Kuenning competed in the 100-yard back, earning her third first place finish on the day. She recorded a time of 1:04.18. Groves swam to her third victory, posting a time of 1:12.50 in the 100-yard back. In the 500-yard free, Craig recorded a time of 5:52.30, touching the wall first for the third time in the day.
Tyler had a spectacular showing in the 50-yard fly. She set a UNE pool record with a time of 27.70, almost three seconds before the next finisher. In the 100-yard individual medley, Groves touched the wall first for the fourth time, recording a time of 1:03.17.
MHC finished the meet on a high note, posting a UNE pool record in the 200-yard free relay with a time of 1:46.55. The Lyons found themselves behind early, but powered themselves to a strong first place finish. The relay team included Craig, Mukulu, Kuenning, and Tyler.
Mount Holyoke will be back on the road, next Saturday, facing Westfield State University. The meet will begin a 1:00pm.
