The Hope College women's swimming & diving team recorded two of the top performances at the season-opening Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Relays on Friday at Holland Community Aquatic Center.
Hope won the 1,500-yard relay as senior Molly Meyer of South Bend, Indiana (John Adams HS), senior Payton Hoff of Clarkson, Michigan (Notre Dame Prep) and junior Chloe Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn) recorded a time of 16 minutes, 44.52 seconds.
The Flying Dutch took first in the 400 medley relay. Chloe Palajac, freshman Paula Nolte of Elmhurst, Illinois (York Community), freshman Erica Slenk of Zeeland, Michigan (Holland Christian) and Meyer swam to a winning time of 4:19.42. Seventh in the event was junior Elizabeth Fris of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa), freshman Kayty Ihara of South Lyon, Michigan (East), sophomore Sara Hudson of Novi, Michigan (Notre Dame Prep) and freshman Erin Emmert of Grand Blanc, Michigan (Flint Powers Catholic) at 4:38.06.
It was a nonscoring meet.
Hope finished runner-up and sixth in the 200 butterfly relay as Emmert, Hudson, sophomore Elisabeth Craig of Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids) and Chloe Palajac clocked a second-place swim of 1:53.53. Sophomore Sydney Asselin of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian), Nolte, freshman Alison Sobkowski of Portage, Indiana (Portage) and Brinks came in sixth at 2:00.49.
The Flying Dutch took fifth in the 200 freestyle relay. Chloe Palajac, Asselin, sophomore Abigail Brinks of Commerce Township, Michigan (Walled Lake Northern) and Fris teamed for a swim of 1:45.47.
The Flying Dutch were sixth and eighth in the 500 freestyle relay. Slenk, freshman Sophia Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn), Brinks and Asselin had a sixth-place swim of 5:08.31.Junior Julia Hines of Vienna, Virginia (James Madison), Hoff, Fris and freshman Nicki Watson of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central) finished with a time of 5:15.24.
Hope placed seventh in the 200 breaststroke relay as Nolte, Ihara, freshman Sophia Kleinheksel of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake) and Hudson went 1:57.44.
The Flying Dutch return to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 with its 1 p.m. MIAA opener against Kalamazoo at Kresge Natatorium.
