Nov. 21, 2010
Bowling Green, Ky. – The Vanderbilt women’s swim team took second at the Western Kentucky Invitational, closing out the three-day event with 899 points. Jess Eccher highlighted the evening by setting season-best times for the Commodores in two events and nearly breaking a 22-year old record.
“Overall I think this was a very good weekend of swimming for us,” head coach Jeremy Organ said. “We had some really great swims and I am proud of how the girls competed.”
Sophomore Jess Eccher was less than a quarter of a second away from breaking the school’s 200-yard backstroke record when she finished in a time of 2:02.96, earning third-place. Wendy Deacon set the school record in 1988 when she completed the event in 2:02.79. Eccher also set the season-best time in the 100-yard freestyle when she took second place in a time of 53.28
“I was really excited going into the meet since it was the final day,” Eccher said. “The adrenaline was pumping and I wanted to end the weekend on a good note. I know others on the team were feeling the same way and swam great races because of it.”
The day was not over for Eccher as she was able to help lead the 400-yard freestyle relay team to a third-place finish in a time of 3:34.12, a season-best for Vanderbilt. The team was also made up by Jennifer Molchan, Laura Furr and Melissa Roberts.
Erika Deardorf opened up day three by taking first place in the 1650-yard freestyle in a time of 17:16.86. The Texas native holds the school record in the event when she swam it in a time of 16:59.60 at the 2010 SEC Championships. Freshman Michelle Williamson finished second behind Deardorf in a time of 17:30.84.
Aside from Williamson, the freshman had a good showing at the WKU Invite, headlined by Chloe Ott taking second in the 200-yard breaststroke in a season-best time of 2:23.16. Melissa Roberts swam the 100-yard freestyle in 53.38 to earn third place. Laura Furr swam the event in 54.18, a personal-best for the season. Michelle Williamson also set a personal-best in the 200-yard butterfly by finishing in a time of 2:11.52.
Laura Dillon had a strong race in the 200-yard breaststroke, finishing in third with a time of 2:23.99.
Eccher had earned a second-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley and helped lead the 400-yard relay team to a second place finish on Friday. On Saturday, Eccher swam the 100-yard butterfly in 57.74, her fastest time at Vanderbilt.
For the second-straight season, Vanderbilt took second at the Hilltopper Invitational. The Commodores have competed in the meet every year since the program resurrected in 2006.
“One of the great things about the WKU Invite is that it is a three-day meet and the team has a great chance to bond,” Eccher said. “We got to know each other on a personal level which is hard to do at a dual. Coming out of this meet we are a lot stronger and we will swim well because of our bond and camaraderie.”
The team will take some time off to train before traveling to Florida to compete against the University of Miami on December 4.
