Jan. 21, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt swim team battled all afternoon with Houston as both teams were never more than 15 points apart and the meet came down to the final relay. In the end, Houston prevailed 163-152. The Commodores were defeated by Arkansas 193-119.
The ‘Dores started off the meet with a second place finish in the 200-yard medley relay to close the 11 point gap Houston had going into the second day of competition. The relay team of Johanna Goldblatt, Kathryn Coughlin, Breanna Sapienza, and Paige Hamilton finished with a time of 1:44.97.
In the next event, the Commodores had two swimmers who would be competing in this event for the first time this season. Kara Lucenti and Selah Peacock swam in the 400-yard IM and finished in fourth (4:30.87) and fifth (4:31.19), respectively.
Vanderbilt was not off the podium for long as the ‘Dores picked up their first of three wins on the afternoon. Freshman Paige Hamilton was at it again, this time placing first in the 100-yard freestyle (52.07). This is her second-consecutive win after claiming first in the 50-yard freestyle yesterday afternoon.
Fellow freshman Amanda Chabbott competed in the next event for the Commodores. She placed first in her heat in the 200-yard backstroke with a season-best time of 2:05.34. Overall, Chabbott finished fifth in the event.
The ‘Dores claimed victory in the following event as two swimmers found their way to the podium. Breanna Sapienza earned her fourth victory of the season in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing with a time of 55.76. Kayla Moran was the other Commodore on the podium in the 100 fly, she placed third with a time of 56.39.
In the second to last event of the afternoon, the Commodores picked up win number three. Kara Lucenti finished first in the 200-yard breaststroke to claim her fourth victory in that event this season. She finished with a time of 2:20.00 and pulled the ‘Dores within two points of Houston with one event to go.
The 400-yard freestyle relay would determine whether the Commodores or Cougars came away with a victory in the two-day tri-meet. The relay team of Kayla Moran, Summer Brown, Kathryn Coughlin, and Paige Hamilton swam a great race but finished runner-up (3:31.79) with the Cougars finishing in first.
Prior to the meet, senior day festivities were held for the Commodore seniors. Known as the surviving six, Kathryn Babbin, Carrie Bencic, Alexandra Blankenburg, Kathryn Coughlin, Rachel Koch and Kayla Moran were honored with their families in their last home meet at Centennial Sportsplex.
The Commodores won’t have much time off as they are back in action next Saturday, January 28. The ‘Dores will travel to Huntington, W.V. to take on Marshall in a dual meet. The meet will begin at 9 am CT.
