Nov. 23, 2013
ATLANTA, Ga. – Elly Faulkner continued her great swimming on the second day of the Georgia Tech Invitational helping the Vanderbilt swim team move up one spot to fourth place with one day of swimming remaining. Faulkner set two records, Saturday, bringing her weekend total to three.
The Commodores had 24 swimmers advance through the morning prelims into the finals session and scored 325 points on the second day to bring their weekend total to 490. The `Dores sit ahead of James Madison, Miami (Florida), Florida Atlantic, Clemson and College of Charleston.
“Once again I thought we had great swims from everyone,” said head coach Jeremy Organ. “We had a really good morning with some really good swims to get into the finals session. Elly had another great day breaking both the 400 IM and 100 breast records, she is having herself a really nice weekend.”
Vanderbilt got the evening started off with a third place finish in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:43.34. Chrissy Oberg, Faulkner, Kayla Moran and Caroline Thomas finished just short of school record and set a season best time by nearly five seconds.
Faulkner and Alexandra Blankenburg led the `Dores in the 400 IM. Faulkner, who set the school record with a time of 4:23.05 during the preliminary session, broke that record again later in the day by swimming a 4:21.17, finishing second in the event. The freshman Blankenburg swam a 4:23.77 during the finals swim, which would have broken the school record if Faulkner had not already bested that time.
Vandy showed its depth in the 100-yard butterfly, having five swimmers score points. Moran led the group with a fourth place finish and a time of 55.28. Oberg took and Rachel Koch both finished inside the top 10, in seventh and 10th, respectively. Lauren Torres (11th) and Blankenburg (19th) rounded out the group.
Carrie Bencic and Hannah Martin finished 11th and 12th, respectively, in the 200 free with times of 1:50.66 and 1:51.27. Torres came in behind them in 17th at a time of 1:53.47.
Faulkner set school history once again for the `Dores in the 100 breast, finishing second with a record time of 1:01.71. Lauren Egan (12th), Kathryn Coughlin (15th) and Olivia Leunis (17th) each scored for the Commodores in the event.
The Vandy team continued its impressive swims in the 100-yard backstroke, with three swimmers coming in the top 10. Oberg led the trio, taking second and touching the wall at 55.25. Freshman Chandler Soapes took fifth in the event with a season best time of 56.58. Alexis Mayhall rounded out the top 10 with a time of 57.37.
The `Dores closed out their day with a fifth place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay.
“I think our strengths are still ahead of us, we swim really well in the 200’s,” said Organ. “We’re excited to get out and swim tomorrow, our girls are excited and we hope to end the weekend on a positive note.”
The final day of action all feature the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and 400 free relay. All of the action can once again be seen for free via Georgia Tech All-Access.
