Irish Invitational

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, January 12. SOPHOMORE transfer Kate Zubkova set a a pair of pool records in the backstroke and the Hoosiers recorded 10 NCAA B standards to finish first at the Irish Invitational which wrapped up Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.

The Hoosiers took first with 1108.5 points, followed by No. 13 Michigan (1055), Notre Dame (898.5) and Illinois (442).

Zubkova led a 1-2 IU finish in the 100-yard backstroke with a pool record and NCAA A time of 54.18. Presley Bard took second in 55.37, an NCAA B time. In the 200-yard back it was an NCAA B cut and pool-record time of 1:58.03 that earned Zubkova a first-place finish. Bard with third (2:01.71) and Amy Harriman ninth (2:07.30).

Indiana entered the evening session with a nearly 100-point lead on second-place Michigan, holding a 762.5-680 advantage. Opening the evening session, Amanda Smith paced the Hoosiers in the 1,650 freestyle with a career best and NCAA B mark of 16:39.59 to finish second. Cassie Luhrsen was third with a time of 16:41.22, also an NCAA B mark.

Donna Smailis, Kelsey Atchison and Brittany Epperson all scored for the Hoosiers in the 100-yard freestyle as Smailis finished fourth (51.77), followed by Atchison in fifth (52.38) and Epperson seventh (52.95).

Sarah Stockwell's season-best and NCAA B time of 2:17.81 earned her a third-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke. Amilee Smith was a fifth-place finisher (2:18.92) and Abby Cooper touched the wall in sixth (2:20.51).

Allison Kay gave Indiana the sweep in the butterfly events with a winning time of 2:00.83, giving her an NCAA B standard. Christie Fuchs was fifth (2:05.12) and Amanda Smith 10th (2:06.98).

Indiana added another victory to its totals as Brittney Feldman took the 1-meter diving title with a score of 305.40. Jade Summerlin placed 10th with marks totaling 236.80.

The day ended with another Indiana victory as Zubkova, Bard, Smailis and Kay touched the wall in 3:26.38 in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The morning session began with another IU victory as Zubkova, Sarah Stockwell, Donna Smailis and Presley Bard swam an NCAA B cut time of 1:42.18 in the 200-yard medley relay. The 400-yard individual medley followed and Kay took the top spot with a season-best and NCAA B time of 4:17.89. Amilee Smith was sixth (4:27.40) and Stockwell 10th (4:33.42).

The 100-yard butterfly produced a 1-2 Indiana finish as Zubkova touched the wall in 55.64 and Smailis was second (56.08). Fuchs was also a top-10 finisher with a time of 57.92, good for seventh. Bard continued the win streak in the 200-yard freestyle with a season-best and B standard 1:50.29. Smailis picked up 14 points by placing fifth (1:52.92), followed by Amanda Smith in seventh (1:53.13) and Atchison eighth (1:53.17-season best).

Stockwell was the top Hoosier finisher in the 100 breaststroke, clocking in third at 1:04.40, while Cooper was just behind with a fourth-place showing (1:04.70). The a.m. session concluded with the 800-yard freestyle relay and the Hoosier lineup of Amanda Smith, Smailis, Kay and Luhrsen took second with a season-best mark of 7:30.71.

Indiana is back in action next weekend as it travels to No. 9 Tennessee on Jan. 18 for a dual meet.

Special thanks to Indiana for contributing this report.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use