MINNEAPOLIS –
Kapani Kirkland (Sr./Mendota Heights, Minn./Convent of the Visitation) was the runner up during the 3-meter diving competition, the biggest highlight for the Carleton College women's swimming & diving team on Day 2 of the MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships.
The Knights moved up one spot and now sit fifth out of nine teams with 141 points. St. Catherine continues to lead the team competition and now has 274 points. Gustavus climbed into second place (250 points) with St. Olaf dropping to third (203). Macalester (136) slipped to sixth, behind Saint Benedict (155) and Carleton.
Kirkland scored 405.75 during Thursday's preliminary round and 400.95 during the finals, finishing only 2.15 points out of first place.
Brenna Russell (So./Andover, Minn./Andover) gained valuable experience as she scored 336.35 during the prelims to nab the last spot in the finals where she improved with a score of 345.05.
Four Knights swam in the consolation final of the 500-yard freestyle.
Madi Smith (Sr./Denver, Colo./Denver School of Science and Technology-Stapleton) placed 10th with a time of 5:21.67, five seconds faster than she swam in the prelims. Likewise,
Serena Lee (Sr./Muscat, Oman/The American International School of Muscat) also dropped time on Thursday evening, finishing 13th at 5:25.84.
Victoria Bradjan (Fy./Gilbert, Ariz/Gilbert) trimmed 5.4 seconds off her prelim time and reached the all at 5:28.00 in the finals, good for 14th place, and
Caroline Crampton (Fy./Plymouth, Mass./Sturgis) posted her best time in the event (5:27.34) during the morning swim.
Lydia Boyum (Sr./Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson),
Ashley Rosenberg (Fy./Chicago, Ill./Latin School of Chicago),
Jenna Drummond (Fy./East Greenbush, N.Y./Emma Willard), and
Isabelle Riley (Fy./Singapore/Singapore American School) all earned spots in the consolation final of the 200-yard IM, placing 12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th, respectively, to add to Carleton's point total. Boyum and Rosenberg both dropped time during the finals, touching the timing pad at 2:15.21 and 2:15.92. Drummond (2:16.23) and Riley (2:19.35) saw their best swims come during the prelims.
Raine Bernhard (Jr./Champaign, Ill./University High School) finished 14th in the 50-yard freestyle, reaching the wall at 24.81.
Carleton's entry in the 400-yard medley relay improved more than eight seconds off the squad's season-best mark and finished at 4:01.84.
Maddie Damberg-Ott (Jr./London, Great Britain/Channing School),
Elizabeth Chatard (Fy./San Anselmo, Calif./Archie Williams),
Alison Cameron (Sr./Reno, Nev./Reno), and Bernhard combined to post the fastest exchange times in the event—for both the men and the women—and covered the distance in 4:01.84.
Up Next for the Knights
Friday will again feature prelims at 10:30 a.m. with the championship and consolation finals at 6:30 p.m. Events will include the 400 IM 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, and 200 freestyle relay.
All-MIAC performances for Carleton (1st-3rd place individual, 1st-3rd place relay…through day 2)
3-meter diving
2.
Kapani Kirkland — 400.95 points
