Gardner-Webb Tops CCSA Foe Georgia Southern To Remain Unbeaten
November 14, 2008 | Swimming
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Although close for much of the meet, the Gardner-Webb women's swim team produced a substantial lead at the last break and held on for a 109-96 victory Friday evening against CCSA foe Georgia Southern.
Things didn't start out so well for the Bulldogs as Georgia Southern was able to nip the home squad at the finish line by a tenth of a second. The team of Alexis Myers, Sarah Stokes, Brianna Bleymaier and Kiah Bellows was runner-up after finishing in 1:49.28. The team of Victoria Bryant, Mallory Baxter, Hillary Leonard and Kali Fletcher earned the bronze with a time of 1:53.39.
Elizabeth Ketterer was just off her top time in GWU history while winning the 1,000 free in a solid time of 10:24.23. Ketterer nearly claimed back-to-back titles, but was overtaken in the last 10 meters by Carolina Bevillard in the 200 free. Ketter won the silver in 1:55.90.
Corey Hughey got GWU back on track in the 50 free. Hughey won the event in 24.16 while rookie Veronica Case's time of 25.01 was the 10th-fastest time in school history, besting the mark she held by .01.
Rachel Warkentin was on fire in the 200 IM as she took home gold-medal honors by touching the wall in 2:10.02, which was the fourth-best mark in school history. Warkentin's time of 2:13.20 in January was the ninth-fastest time. Victoria Bryant also etched her name in GWU lore by taking third with a time of 2:11.79, which ranks as the 10th-best time in Bulldog history.
Warkentin continued to stay red hot, even in the pool, after the break. Her personal-best time of 2:08.09 in the 200 fly was good enough for second place in addition to being a school record. Rookie Lyndsey Roka picked up the bronze for her effort of 2:12.69 while Carrie Kibler was fourth (2:14.52).
Hughey's victory in the 100 free in 53.34 helped widen the lead for the Red and Black. Case chipped in solid points by finishing third in 54.94.
Victoria Bryant's personal-best time of 2:07.70 was also good enough to move her up in the GWU record book. The time, which is the sixth fastest in GWU history, was also good enough to win the event. Sarah Steadman was second, finishing in 2:09.38.
Ketterer and Kelly Gueltig's tremendous performances in the 500 free gave the Bulldogs enough breathing room for the remainder of the meet. Ketterer won the event in 5:07.74 while Gueltig placed third in 5:18.30.
Similar to the men's team, the women's last individual event had an incredible finish. In the 200 breast, Mallory Baxter and Ashley White continued to trade the lead through the first 175 yards. White ended up edging Baxter, who recorded a solid time of 2:28.96, just .10 off the winning mark. Rookie Kiah Bellows' time of 2:29.19 earned her the bronze medal in the event.
GWU closed out the meet with a second-place effort in the 200 free relay. The team of Case, Kristen Sellers, Sarah Steadman and Stepheni Stadnik finished a half second behind the winners of Georgia Southern. The quartet completed the race in 1:39.50.
The Bulldogs return to action Nov. 21-23 at the Davidson
Invitational.
| Results |
