Larsen Wins 50 on Day One of the Kansas Classic

CEDAR FALLS, IA - The University of Northern Iowa Swim team completed their first day at the Kansas Classic, highlighted by freshman Faith Larsen picking up a win in the 50 freestyle. Other events held on the first day of competition included the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 200 freestyle relay, and 400 medley relay.

Larsen crushed her previous lifetime best in the prelims, swimming a 23.20. In the finals, she dropped another hundredth of a second en route to the victory. Larsen now ranks as the third fastest performer in team history with a 23.19.

Seven other Panthers raced the 50 freestyle in the finals session, including freshmen Waren Graeve (24.19) and Abby McCorkle (24.30), sophomore Taylor Short (24.33), and junior Natalia Verastegui (24.31) who all swam lifetime bests on the day.

In the 500 freestyle, freshman Abbie Bangs finished eighth overall. In the prelims, she swam a lifetime best of 5:01.77, down from a 5:02.72. Freshman Hallory Domnick and senior Rachelle Houlette both swam season best times in the finals.

Sophomores Amber Finke and Lily Ernst, along with freshman Ema Lavigne, swam the finals of the 200 I.M. Finke placed 11th with a 2:05.86, her second fastest time ever in the event. Lavigne moved to fifth all-time with a 2:06.98 and Ernst improved her lifetime best to a 2:08.12 in the prelims. Freshman Meghan Pallett also recorded a lifetime best in the 200 I.M. with a 2:10.00.

In the 200 freestyle relay, the team of Finke, Clare Christensen, Graeve, and Larsen finished in fourth place with a 1:32.50. Finke led off the relay in a 23.83, which was both a lifetime best and the tenth fastest all-time 50 freestyle. Larsen anchored in a 22.76.

The 400 medley relay closed the day of competition with the Panthers finishing sixth of the scoring teams. The team of Finke, Lavigne, Ernst, and Larsen recorded a 3:48.90, with Larsen anchoring in a 50.69.

The Panthers will be back in action for day two tomorrow. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. and finals tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. Follow along on the Meet Mobile app.

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