GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's swimming team broke the school record in the 200 freestyle relay and saw three other individuals post personal best times that rank among the top 10 performances in school history on Saturday at the Centennial Conference Championships. Heading into Sunday's fourth and final day of the conference championship, the Diplomats are in fourth place with 286 team points.
The evening session got off to a quick start for the Diplomats as the team of Julie McFadden, Sophie Moyer, Helen Lahmann-Metcalfe, and Rachel Baker claimed bronze in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:36.33, breaking the previous school record set in 2020. The "B" relay also took third in its consolation final as Olivia Lockey, Sarah Gartner, Ruhbani Sidhu, and Emma Devine posted a time of 1:40.28.
Franklin & Marshall's highest individual finish from the session was a fourth-place showing from Sophie Moyer as the school record holder in the 100 breaststroke posted a time of 1:05.22 in that same event. Maya Blaisure won the consolation final of that discipline with a personal-best time of 1:08.21 which solidifies her spot as the seventh-fastest individual in school history. Riley Reader (1:11.71) and Helen Lahmann-Metcalfe (1:12.31) were 14th and 15th in the overall standings.
The Diplomats sent three individuals to the finals of the 400 individual medley and 100 backstroke. Catherine Crampton placed sixth in the championship final of the 400 IM after posting a personal best time of 4:37.41 during the preliminaries. That time ranks seventh in school history. Jenna Lu (4:48.82) and Georgia May (4:53.81) also raced in the consolation final. Closing out the night in the 100 backstroke, Julie McFadden (59.75), Rachel Baker (59.94), and Sophie Bergstrom (1:00.34) swept the 10th through 12th positions in the consolation final. Baker posted a personal-best 59.46 time in the preliminaries to move up to sixth in school history.
Other event finalists on Saturday night were Amelia Bothwell who placed 11th in the 100 butterfly (59.91) and Sarah Gartner who took 15th in the 200 freestyle (1:59.97).
Women's swimming wraps up the 2023 Centennial Conference Championships on Sunday with preliminaries and finals at their respective 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. starts. Events contested on Sunday will be 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and the 400 freestyle relay.
Franklin & Marshall Saturday Scorers
200 Freestyle Relay
3. Julie McFadden, Sophie Moyer, Helen Lahmann-Metcalfe, Rachel Baker (1:36.33) – School Record
11. Olivia Lockey, Sarah Gartner, Ruhbani Sidhu, Emma Devine (1:40.28)
400 Individual Medley
6. Catherine Crampton (4:38.12) – seventh in school history
14. Jenna Lu (4:48.82)
16. Georgia May (4:53.81)
100 Butterfly
11. Amelia Bothwell (59.91)
200 Freestyle
15. Sarah Gartner (1:59.97)
100 Breaststroke
4. Sophie Moyer (1:05.22)
9. Maya Blaisure (1:08.21) – seventh in school history
14. Riley Reader (1:11.71)
15: Helen Lahmann-Metcalfe (1:12.31)
100 Backstroke
10. Julie McFadden (59.75)
11. Rachel Baker (59.94) – sixth in school history
12. Sophie Bergstrom (1:00.34)
