Last Saturday, the BG women’s swimming team traveled to Cincinnati to take on Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati in the Grand Opening Relays.
The trio of Meg Richardson, Kim Albin and Christina Vaca recorded a time of 1:35.46 in the 150-meter breaststroke. This was one of two first place finishes for the Falcons in the meet, the other one coming in the 500-yard freestyle relay.
Joined by fellow freshman Frankie Houck and veterans Caroline Keating and Jennifer Wright, Richardson was again in on the winning relay.
The Falcons also had five second place finishes. Keating aided in a second place finish for both the 200-yard freestyle and the 150-yard butterfly relay events. Freshman Chelsea Lopus also was on the 150-yard butterfly relay, in addition to another second place relay, the 150-yard backstroke relay with a time of 1:23.32.
The 200-yard medley relay team of Richardson, Alisha Yee, Michael Carriaga and Jen Wright also finished in second with a time of 1:51.78. The Falcons “B” relay team also added a third place finish in the 100-yard freestyle, recording a time of 45.80.
“We really did a good job,” Keating said. “We felt like we needed to perform well against Cincinnati and Xavier. I believe that we accomplished that, and it will give us confidence for the rest of the season.”
“Coming in, this meet was very important for us to determine where we were at as a team,” said co-captain Britt O’Connor. “Being able to compete with Cincinnati, a Big East team, shows that we are in good shape going into the rest of the season.”
The most memorable part of the meet for Keating may not have taken place in the water. Prior to the meet, UC’s new aquatic center was renamed for Keating’s grandfather, William Keating. William, a former Republican congressman from 1971-74, is a UC alum and the former chairman of the board of UC’s board of trustees. Caroline was moved by the whole ceremony.
“I was really excited to be there with my whole family, and being able to honor my grandfather like that,” Keating said. “Being here with my second family and the swimming team made it all the more memorable.”
The Falcons travel to Toledo and Eastern Michigan next weekend for their first Mid-American Conference meets of the season, before participating in the Ohio State Invitational on Dec. 1.
