Swimming and diving dominates weekend performances

The Tommie women’s swimming and diving teams wrapped up a successful weekend after competing in two meets, winning Friday at home and again Saturday at Macalester.

The Tommies competed against Concordia-Moorhead and Augsburg Friday. They racked up a total of 152 points, while Concordia scored 86 and Augsburg scored 17.

Junior diver Jennifer Easton broke St. Thomas’s 12-year-old record in the 1-meter six-dive event at home with a total of 239.10.

Senior Rebecca Ney’s 5:28.04 in the 500-meter free earned her a place as the 11th fastest in school history.

Men’s and women’s meet at Macalester

On Saturday, both the men’s and women’s teams competed in the Roger Ahlman Invitational at Macalester College. Macalester hosted St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Concordia, St. Mary’s, Hamline, Augsburg and St. Olaf.

The Tommie women’s team won the meet with a score of 546. St. Catherine’s came in second with a score of 439.5, followed by Concordia College with 252 points.

“We swam fairly well,” coach Tom Hodgson said. “We came off a very strong week of training and we had some tired arms and legs, but I think 75 percent of our swims were the fastest times of the season. I think our kids are showing the effects of the hard work, but most are showing the results of the hard work as well.”

At the event, Easton broke the school record again in the 1-meter dive with 248.75 points.

The men’s team also took first place at the meet. With a score of 898 points, the Tommies swept the rest of the competition out of the water. Macalester came in second with 217 points.

“We had a hand in winning pretty much every race,” senior captain Matt Moore said. “With a big team like we have, it’s kind of hard not to win in a small meet like that.”

The Tommies earned first place in 15 of 17 events during the meet.

“Everyone swam very well. A lot of guys had their best times today,” Moore said. “All in all it was a very good meet. I think we are ahead of schedule as far as where we were last year at this time.

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, and I think everyone knows that and looks forward to it.”

Maggie Clemensen can be reached at clem0427@stthomas.edu.