Irish Invitational: Day One

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, January 11. PICKING up victories in both the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relays, the Indiana women's swimming and diving team jump out to a commanding lead on day one of the Irish Invitational in South Bend, Ind. Friday afternoon.

The Hoosiers racked up 379.5 points in the first of three sessions, followed by Michigan (293), Notre Dame (288.5) and Illinois (131).

Depth was a difference maker for IU as the team picked up 70 points with first and third-place finishes in the 200-yard free relay. The team of Kate Zubkova, Presley Bard, Brittany Epperson and Kelsey Atchison touched the wall in a time of 1:34.30. Kristin Cihoski, Sarah Stockwell, Abby Cooper and Amanda Smith placed fourth in 1:35.94.

Indiana claimed six of the top-10 finishers in the 500-yard freestyle, led by Amanda Smith's season-best and NCAA B cut time of 4:47.67. Also hitting a B cut was third-place finisher Allison Kay (4:53.19), while Cassie Luhrsen just missed the mark in fourth (4:55.58). Rounding out the top 10 were Amilee Smith (8th-4:59.18), Christie Fuchs (9th- 4:59.26) and Atchison (5:00.64).

The Hoosiers went 3-4-5 in the 200-yard individual medley as Zubkova swam a 2:04.31 in her first competition of the season. Bard was fourth (2:04.50), followed by Kay's season-best time of 2:04.97. Donna Smailis (7th- 2:06.24), Cooper (8th- 2:06.61) and Stockwell (10th- 2:07.26) were also top-10 finishers.

In the sprints it was Cooper leading the IU finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a career-best of 24.01, good for fourth. Epperson was a touch behind at 24.14, with Atchison eighth (24.49).

The swimming events concluded with the 400-yard medley relay as Zubkova, Stockwell, Smailis and Bard teamed up for a winning time of 3:42.75, an NCAA B time. Indiana also fielded the third place team as Cihoski, Cooper, Kay and Amanda Smith finished in a time of 3:49.99.

In the diving well, Brittney Feldman was the top IU finisher on the 3-meter board with a fourth-place score of 289.15. Seniors Jade Summerlin and Ashley Green also cracked the top-10 with Summerlin seventh (266.40) and Greene ninth (250.05).

The meet concludes tomorrow with two sessions at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Special thanks to Indiana for contributing this report.

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