Dec. 5, 2015
ATHENS, Ga. — Day two of the Georgia Fall Invitational proved to be fruitful for the Vanderbilt swim team, as the squad broke two individual school records and sent eight student-athletes to Saturday night’s finals.
Out of the six teams in competition, four are currently ranked in the CSCCA top-25. Stacked up against elite teams that all generate times akin to those seen at the SEC Championships, the `Dores asserted dominance and grew in each individual event; 200 MR, 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 200 relay.
In morning prelims several Commodores achieved their best times in an event. Kara Lucenti brought in a 4:23.36 in the 400 IM, which would be topped later in her finals swim. Erin Primdahl and Madison Eaker swam personal best times as well, with a 57.42 by Primdahl in the 100 fly and a 1:53.33 PR by Eaker in the 200 free.
In relays, two solid swims in the 200-medley relay resulted in a gain of 32 total points, as Vanderbilt earned 8th and 12th place.
Once finals rolled around, the Vanderbilt sophomore class continued to deliver powerhouse swims, with Lucenti and Breanna Sapienza breaking school records in the 400 IM and 100 fly.
Touching in at 4:19.36, Lucenti broke Ellie Faulker’s 2014 record of 4:21.17 in the 400 IM. Alexandra Blankenburg followed the sophomore a few seconds later earning 21st place (4:30.83). Sapienza generated an 11th place finish in the 100 fly with a program-best time of 53.63, Kayla Moran followed at 12th place with a 53.84.
Summer Brown also swam in finals giving an excellent showing in the 200 free, taking 19th place at a time of 1:49.52.
After advancing to finals with a 1:02.57, Kathryn Coughlin finished 14th in the 100 breast at 1:02.63. In her second finals swim on the evening, Lucenti earned 15th place at a time of 1:02.77.
Vanderbilt capped off the day with freshman Johanna Goldblatt qualifying for the 100 back, taking 23rd place in finals, touching in at 56.75.
With two days in the books, VU looks to cap off the Georgia Fall Invitational with competitive swims in the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 ly and 400 free relay.
