HOUSTON — Melissa Cowen advanced to a pair of finals and posted two marks that now rank in the top 10 on Vanderbilt swimming’s all-time performer list as the Commodores competed on the opening day of the Phill Hansel Invitational at the CRWC Natatorium.
The junior transfer entered the top 10 in program history in the 200 IM C Final and also was part of the 400 medley relay that closed the evening accomplishing the feat as well. Amelia Harper also scored for Vandy after advancing to the C Final of the 200 IM.
“It was an encouraging start to the meet,” head coach Jeremy Organ said. “The highlight of the day for sure was Grace and Amelia going lifetime bests in their races.”
The Phill Hansel Invitational continues on Thursday, with prelims in the 100 fly starting at 10 a.m.
Meet Highlights
-Cowen placed third in the C Final of the 200 IM while also returning for a swim in the 50 free in the evening session.
-Bailey Ratzburg was runner-up in the D Final of the event as well.
-Madelyn Porter, Merritt Zieminick, Grace Ciaramitaro and Kate Heintz qualified for finals in the 500 free.
Notes
-Ratzburg (2:03.41) and Cowen (2:03.61) now rank seventh and 10th, respectively, all-time at Vandy in the 200 IM.
-The two, plus Harper (2:04.32), all met the CSCAA National Invitational Championship B standard in the event.
-The quartet of Aubrey Hull, Cowen, Ellie Butler and Lane Gooding posted a mark of 3:42.35 in the 400 medley relay in the final race of the night to move into eighth on the program’s all-time performer list.
-Cowen also posted a career-best mark in the 50 free with her opening split of 23.61 in the 200 free relay.
-Ava Allingham recorded a career-low 2:05.37 time in prelims of the 200 IM.
-Porter led the Commodores with a season-best 4:59.19 mark in 500 free prelims.
-Ciaramitaro had a time of 5:00.25 in finals of the same event, the best of her career.
