Swimming Takes 2nd, 3rd at Brenau Invite
GAINSEVILLE, Ga. – Asbury swimming wrapped up their first invitational of the year on Saturday at the Brenau Invitational with the men taking second of nine teams and the women placing third out of 10.
Danny Bowman highlighted the men’s portion of the invite, winning the 1650 free event with a time of 16:50.73. He was also part of the 800 free relay squad that finished fourth and made national cut with a 7:23.07. Also taking part in the relay were Jake Courey, Trevor Ehrenheim and Friend Bechtel. The Eagles finished 3rd in the 200 medley relay with a 1:39.08 and took 2nd in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:13.80.
The men had 19 top-eight finishers in individual races, including three in the 100 back and the 100 free events. The Eagles took 4th-5th-6th in the 100 free as Jimmy Hall, Friend Bechtel and Jake Courey were all separated by be three tenths of a second. Hall turned in a 48.76. In the 100 back it was Ehrenheim who paced the team, taking 5th with a 55:19 followed by Pat Armstrong in 7th and Friend Bechtel in 8th. Ehrenheim also finished 3rd in the 400 IM and the 200 back events.
The women saw eight place in the top-eight on Saturday and saw two more national cuts be made. The 800 free relay team who finished 6th with a time of 8:23.46. Ranay Ray also qualified for nationals in the 400 IM with a time of 4:57.25, good for 6th.
In other relay action the 400 free relay team placed 4th while the 200 medley squad took 3rd. A pair of freshmen in Kayley Valentien and Caitlin Gagnon turned in two top-8 finishes each. Gagnon placed 6th in the 100 fly with a 1:02.84 and also placed 8th in the 200 back with a 2:17.38. Rebecca Landry also placed 8th in the 100 fly. Valentien took 7th in the 200 free with a 2:02.55 and followed that up with a 6th place finish in the 1650 free, posting an 18:51.62. Liz Bowman placed 8th in the mile race. Katie Duncan as Asbury’s top finisher in the 100 back, taking 8th with a 1:03.18.
The Eagles won’t compete again until January when they travel down the road to Centre College on January 11-12.
