Michigan
Be Better; Invitational
Wolverine Women Start Season Strong at Be Better; Invitational
10/4/2024 11:13:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Site: Holland, Mich. (Holland Aquatics Center)
Event: Be Better; Invitational
Score: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 18 -- vs. Notre Dame, Wisconsin (Canham Natatorium), 4 p.m.
HOLLAND, Mich. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving program joined Calvin University, Hope College and Purdue in honoring the late Ian Miskelley on Friday (Oct. 4) at the Be Better; Invitational inside Holland Aquatics Center.
Big Ten Swimmer to Watch Stephanie Balduccini started her sophomore season with a win in the 100-yard individual medley with mark of 55.47 seconds. Balduccini also took care of business in the 25-yard freestyle with a mark of 12.44. Senior Lindsay Flynn took first in the 50 free with a mark of 22.76 and posted a freestyle split of 21.79 to help the Wolverines to first in the 200-yard medley relay. Brady Kendall logged a butterfly leg of 24.40 in Michigan's win in the 200 medley relay.
Michigan dominated the 100-yard butterfly as Olympian Letitia Sim took the top spot with a time of 55.16. Hannah Bellard and Devon Kitchel took second and third with times of 56.02 and 56.57, respectively.
Casey Chung led the way in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 54.46 to finish second while Lily Cleason and Taylor Morris took third and fourth, respectively. Graduate student Claire Newman clocked a 1:03.74 in the 100-yard breaststroke to finish second overall.
Freshman Rebecca Diaconescu outpaced the field in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.28. Diaconescu joins the Wolverines after swimming for Romania at the Paris Olympics in July.
The team of Balduccini, Leila Fack, Natalie Kan and Newman dominated the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:19.98, nearly three seconds faster than the second-place team.
Michigan will open the dual-meet portion of its season on Friday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. when it hosts Notre Dame and Wisconsin to Canham Natatorium as part of a two-day event with the Fighting Irish and Badgers.
Players Mentioned
