Women’s swimming overcomes Drew but drops to Susquehanna

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Juniata women's swimming split in Landmark Conference action against Susquehanna University and Drew University Saturday afternoon at the James W. Garrett Sports Complex.

Juniata defeated the Rangers 81-32 and fell 77-43 to the Crusaders.

A few Eagles captured personal bests at the meet, including a PR for Hillary Palmer (Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette County) in the 200-yard backstroke. Palmer finished third in the race with a 2:25.36 time. Shayna King (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) jumped into the 500-yard free for the first time this season and grabbed a personal best with a 5:55.71 time.

Sophomore Kathryn Viola (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) took first in her three solo events against the Crusaders and Rangers. She swam a 1:12.55 in the 100-yard breaststroke, followed by a first place finish in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:38.18 time, nearly six seconds faster than her competition. Viola also took gold in the 200 individual medley, narrowly beating Susquehanna's Dana Pontecorvo at 2:23.24.

The Eagles cleaned up in the 100-yard butterfly as sophomore Falon Snyder (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) and freshman Alyssa Peachey (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) finished first (1:09.15) and second (1:10.48) respectively.

Sophomore Kelsey Miles (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) had a notable night with two solo second place finishes and a bronze finish. Miles took second in the 100-yard freestyle, just missing first by a hundredth of a second. She reached the wall second in the 500 free with a 5:44.96 time, and reached third in the 200 free with a 2:06.24 time. 

"Our goal was to beat Drew. We haven't beat them since we've been in the Landmark, so that was the goal of the day, and I'm glad we accomplished it," said Head Coach Lauren O'Donnell.

The Eagles finally return to Binder Natatorium for a dual meet next weekend against Penn State Altoona and Hood College. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

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