The Brock Badgers women's swimming team saw numerous podium finishes in their first weekend of competition.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, the Badgers travelled to Guelph for the OUA Sprint Invitational where they came away with a first-place finish over the Guelph Gryphons. The next day, the Badgers hosted the Brock Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 20 at the Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre.
OUA Sprint Invitational
In the dual meet, the Badgers bested the Gryphons by a score of 631-501.
Tatum O'Connor led the way for the Badgers en route to two first-place finishes. O'Connor first earned the win in the 100-metre individual medley in a time of one minute, seven seconds and 31 milliseconds before following that up with a 50-metre backstroke event first-place finish with a time of 31 seconds and 12 milliseconds.
Other first-place finishes came from Adriana Martone who won the 50m breaststroke (34.65) and Quinn Mersereau who also touched the wall first in the 50m freestyle (28.26).
In her first Ontario University Athletics (OUA) competition, first-year swimmer Grace Chai delivered a shining performance, finishing second in four different races (100m IM -1:07.42, 50m freestyle - 28.59, 50m breaststroke - 35.54, 400m freestyle relay - 419.83).
O'Connor was on that same 400m freestyle relay team, earning a second-place finish there and in the 50m butterfly (30.86).
The team of Mia Frederiksen, Grace Pettypiece, Morgan Chrysler and Pearl Publow placed second in the 400m medley relay (4:43.21).
In total, the Badgers saw six second-place finishes and four third-place results.
Brock Invitational
The second meet of the weekend saw the Badgers compete against multiple schools including the Guelph Gryphons, Laurier Golden Hawks, McMaster Marauders and York Lions.
O'Connor was back to her winning ways, placing first in the 50m breastroke in a time of 29.34. The Dundas, ON product also earned second in the 50m butterfly (28.39).
Also coming in first was Martone, who touched the wall in 1:13.81 in the 100m breaststroke.
Adding to her podium finishes from the previous day, Chai placed second in the 50m freestyle (26.99) and third in the 50m breaststroke (35.20) and 100m freestyle events (59.05).
For the relays, the 200m medley team of Chai, Mersereau, Publow and O'Connor crossed the finish in 1:49.69 for a second-place result. Chai and O'Connor also earned third in the 200m medley relay (2:00.29) with Martone and Bella Seabrook.
Up next, the Badgers return to action for a club meet at the Brock/Walker Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre.
