March 8, 2018
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Members of the Vanderbilt swim team are in Annapolis, Md. this weekend competing in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America National Invitational. The event, hosted by the United States Naval Academy, races for three days from March 8 to 10 at Lejeune Hall.
Although sponsored by the CSDCAA and not the NCAA, the National Invitational is considered a NCAA postseason championship, which was one reason head coach Jeremy Organ wanted to bring members of his team to the competition.
“We’re really excited to be here and represent Vanderbilt at this event,” Organ said. “This is a great chance to have another opportunity to swim after the SECs and is a great experience for the girls who are here.”
The National Invitational is only five years old, and is back in 2018 after a year-long hiatus. Swimmers can qualify to compete in this event if they have earned a B-cut time in an individual race earlier in the season. Relay teams qualify by having times better than the Invitational’s own standard times. This year’s event has 300 swimmers from nearly 30 different schools.
The Dores swam in two events Thursday morning, and a relay in the evening. Johanna Goldblatt paced Vandy in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 23.38. Madison Eaker also swam in the 50 free, earning a time of 24.33.
In the long 500-yard freestyle, Vanderbilt was led by a 4:49.19 from Namilla Sanchez. Lara Hernandez-Tome and Sophie Halper also swam in the prelims of the 500 free.
In the last event of the day for Vandy, Goldblatt, Sanchez, Madison Eaker and Kate Hornaday swam the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:35.91.
Vandy came to Maryland a day early and spent the day sightseeing in nearby Washington, D.C. The team spent a good part of the day on a tour of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, which Organ said was the highlight of the day.
“That was a great experience, the girls were excited to go,” Organ said. “Some of the girls had been there previously and were able to lead us on a tour, so it was neat to see all that history.”
Vanderbilt will send the same swimmers in prelim races of three individual events and one relay Friday morning. Fans can follow live stats .
FRIDAY ORDER OF EVENTS
– 400-yard Individual medley
– 100-yard butterfly (no VU swimmers)
– 200-yard freestyle
– 100-yard breaststroke
– 100-yard backstroke
– 200-yard medley relay
