Saluki swimmers set new records in Saluki Invite

Junior Chris Cole competes Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in the Dr. Edward Shea Natatorium. (Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz)

By Ryan Demer
November 4, 2017

The Saluki Invite spanned the course of two days and featured some of the best competition in the nation, given the likes of the Kentucky Wildcats, Northwestern Wildcats, and the Missouri Tigers.

With the stiff competition, the women finished third out of three teams and the men finished fourth out of four teams. In total, Southern won two events.

Sophomore diver Beibei Ji won the 3-meter dive event with a score of 309.5, as her twin sister diver Baobao Ji finished third in the event with a 284.5 score. Baobao also finished second in the 1-meter dive, scoring 275.55.

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Senior freestyler Bryn Handley led Saluki swimmers, as she won the 1000-yard freestyle. She finished in 10:01.17, a new personal-best for her. Handley also finished third in the 200-yard freestyle with a 1:51.30 time.

On the men’s side, senior Michael Wolfe recorded a new personal-best and team-high time in the 1000-yard freestyle, finishing in sixth place with a 9:31.46.

In addition, senior Chandler Ott set a new personal-best in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 24.30.

Although finishing sixth, the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay team recorded a season-best time, finishing in 3:08.29, almost three seconds faster than their previous time.

The team was comprised of juniors Alex Netzel and Reilly Garman, as well as senior Alex Crawford and sophomore Matt Ciezcczak.

Ciezczak also set a new personal-best in the men’s 50-yard freestyle event, as he finished ninth in 21.55.

On the women’s side, the season’s 400-yard freestyle relay record was also broken, as Saluki senior swimmers Bryn Handley, Chandler Ott, Kelsie Walker, and Avery McKenna finished the event in 3:33.16 in fifth place.

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The men’s 400-IM saw junior Chris Cole place eighth and set a new season high as he finished in 4:04.97.

The Southern swimming and diving team will now turn their attention toward the Purdue Invite set to begin on November 16th, lasting all day that Thursday until the Saturday on the 18th.

Sports writer Ryan Demer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @RyanDemer_DE
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