Springfield, Mo. - The Quincy University swim program traveled to Drury University for their annual Drury Invitational this weekend (Nov. 8-9). The Hawks faced a nationally-ranked Drury and tough Rockhurst team in the invite. The Drury ladies topped the group with 1248 points, Rockhurst was next with 736 points and the Hawks followed with 714 points.

The Hawks had a few swimmers place high among some nationals-quality swimmers. Freshman Cassie Rankin swam a 2:01.14 time in the 200 freestyle to secure a second place spot in the race. Claire McDaris was a second behind her with a 2:02.20 time, finishing third. Izabella Sparrow was just a second behind with a 2:03.18 time, good for fifth place. 

Elisa Armentia Moliner posted two third place finishes this weekend. Her 1000-yard freestyle was a personal best at 10:53.89. She placed third in her next even, the 200-yard backstroke, with a 2:12.05 time. Armentia Moliner also PR'd in the 500 freestyle, shaving a second off her time and swimming a 5:18.18. 

Freshman Olga Pucarevic came dangerously close to multiple Quincy records this weekend. Her 2:13.79 swim in the 200 IM was just two seconds shy of the record set in 2017 by Jaimie Mans. She came within a second of the 100-yard butterfly record with her 57.19 second time on Saturday morning, also initially set in 2017. 

Faith Cummings and Celine Lehnard finished back-to-back in the 200 breaststroke, Cummings at 2:34.14 and Lehnard at 2:34.84. Lehnard swam another top time in program history in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 1:12.90 time. 

The Hawks' 200 medley relay did well with a 1:49.77 time, good for third best in school history. 

"We had an outstanding meet in Springfield," said head coach Bryan Christiansen. "This was a big tune up and discovery meet before we rest for our mid-season meet in Indianapolis in two weeks. We figured out a lot that we needed to and were markedly faster than we were at this point last year. We're maturing and supporting each other and this was the most fun I've had at a meet in a minute!"

The Hawks will take a two-week break to prepare for a tough meet at the House of Champions, hosted by IU Indy. In the past, the Hawks have typically competed against Division I and strong Division II opponents in a four-day span. 

Top Finishers
100 Fly, 4th Place - 57.19 (Pucarevic)
200 Free, 2nd Place - 2:01.14 (Rankin)
200 Free, 3rd Place - 2:02.20 (McDaris)
200 Free, 5th Place - 2:03.18 (Sparrow)
1000 Free, 3rd Place - 10:53.89 (Armentia Moliner)
1000 Free, 5th Place - 11:17.70 (Tiesinga)
200 Back, 3rd Place - 2:12.05 (Armentia Moliner)