The Hope College women's swimming & diving team claimed three No. 1 seeds Friday during the preliminaries for the MIAA Championships.
Tonight's finals at Holland Community Aquatic Center begin at 5:30 p.m.
Sophomore Molly Meyer of South Bend, Indiana (John Adams HS), earned two of them with the fastest times in the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke.
Photo of Lindsay Wiederhold by Lynne Powe
Meyer, the MIAA's 100 backstroke recordholder, posted a preliminary time of 57.68 in the event. She set the record of 56.50 during Thursday's 400 medley relay final.
Two teammates will join Meyer in the 100 backstroke final: junior Klare Northuis of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS), in sixth at 1:00.75 and junior Hannah Larson of Jackson, Michigan (Jackson HS), in eighth at 1:01.47.
Two more made the consolation final: junior Michelle Hance of Noblesville, Indiana (Noblesville HS), in ninth at 1:01.70 and senior Lauren Girard of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS), in 16that 1:04.16.
Meyer clocked a time of 58.36 seconds in the 100 butterfly. Freshman Natalie Vela of Clarkston, Michigan (Clarkston HS), will join Meyer in the championship final after placing sixth in preliminaries at 1:00.10.
Sophomore Katie Smith of Mokena, Illinois (Lincoln Way East HS), made the 100 butterfly consolation final by finishing 10th during preliminaries in 1:02.26.
Junior Jorgie Watson of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central HS), will be the top seed for the 100 breaststroke championship final. She clocked a preliminary time of 1:05.46.
Senior Taryn Gras of Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East HS), advanced to the consolation final with a 12th-place effort of 1:11.79 during preliminaries.
In the 400 individual medley, freshman Chloe Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn HS), and junior Lindsay Wiederhold of Plainwell, Michigan (Plainwell HS), reached the final by finishing second and third, respectively, during preliminaries with times of 4:36.13 and 4:41.69.
Hope's 200 medley relay took second during preliminaries. Hance, Gras, Vela and senior Emily Weber of Milan, Michigan (Milan HS), went 1:52.30.
Two reached the 200 freestyle championship final during preliminaries: senior Luisa Burgess of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Taylor Allderice HS), in fifth at 1:58.02 and freshman Amy Larsen of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Northern HS), in eighth at 1:59.13.
Two more made the consolation final: junior Kaleigh Mullen of Rochester, Michigan (Pontiac Notre Dame Prep), in ninth at 1:59.38 and junior Virginia Cotterall of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake HS), in 16th at 2:01.61.
Hope is tied for first place in the overall standings with 262 points. Kalamazoo is third with 260.
Click here for the MIAA Championships home page.
