It happens so infrequently, but when it does, it gives an entire nation of swimmers a little more hope.<\/p>\n

When a swimmer from a mid-major college not only qualifies for the NCAA Division I championships, but scores, it is a moment where everyone remembers that you don\u2019t have to go to the biggest school to swim the fastest.<\/p>\n

Delaney Duncan<\/strong> proved that on Friday night in Columbus, Ohio. The Eastern Michigan junior made the final in the 100 breast and finished fourth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI obviously have a little team envy when I go to the hotel and see huge teams, but I am really proud to be able to represent a mid-major school at this level,\u201d she said. \u201cOnly a few girls from the MAC got to made it. Going in, I just knew I needed to swim my own race.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eastern Michigan is in the Mid-American Conference and has been a MAC power for years, but Duncan is the first female swimmer to ever make a final for the Eagles.<\/p>\n

Duncan finished in 58.36 to finish fourth in the final, a little more than two seconds behind Indiana\u2019s Lilly King, who broke her own American record with a 56.25.<\/p>\n

Duncan was the model of consistency, going a 58.36 in both prelims and finals. She also went a 58 at the Mid-American Conference championships.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is really hard to taper for conference and turn around and taper again for NCAAs,\u201d she said. \u201cI was just trying to go a 58 and I totally surprised myself going a best time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, there is a lot of internal pressure,\u201d she said. \u201cI was hoping for top three or a best time, and I tied my lifetime best, so I can\u2019t be disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was something she saw possible two years ago when she made the consolation finals as a freshman.<\/p>\n

\u201cI B finaled two years ago and last year, I got 29^{th<\/sup>,\u201d she said. \u201cI am so thankful for this season because last season I had a bit of a hiccup year. I put way too much pressure on myself and didn\u2019t have the year I wanted. Going into this year, I knew I had to make a lot of changes.<\/p>\n}

With two hits, she has made big-meet performances a pattern. And she still has one more year to prove mid-majors can do major things in the water.”<\/p>\n