Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Handley, Parsons to compete at Winter National Championships
11/28/2017 | 3:04:00 | Swimming & Diving
Two Saluki swimmers, senior Bryn Handley and sophomore Sam Parsons will compete as individuals this week at the Winter National Championships in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 29 to Dec. 2.
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The Winter National Championships, a part of USA Swimming's Championship Series, features collegiate, club and individual swimmers from around the nation. Florida, Ohio State, Michigan State, Louisville and MVC-foe Illinois State, as well as several other universities, will all send swimmers to the meet to compete alongside swimmers from some of the top under-18 swim clubs in the nation.
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As for SIU's swimmers, Handley will compete in the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday and the 1,650-yard freestyle on Saturday. She qualified for both events with a time of 16:29.21 in the 1,650-yard freestyle and a time of 4:47.96 in the 500-yard freestyle.  She is currently 36th in the NCAA in the 1,650-yard freestyle and 77th in the 500-yard freestyle.
Handley will also swim the time trials in the 200-yard freestyle to try to qualify for the event. To do so, she will need to swim the time trials with a time of 1:47.79. Her previous best time this season was 1:49.99 at the Purdue Invite. Handley has swum the 200-yard freestyle in 1:47.88 in previous seasons.
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For Parsons, she will swim in the finals of the 200-yard breaststroke on Saturday. She qualified for the event with a time of 2:15.46 at the MVC Championships earlier this year. She will also swim in the time trials of the 100-yard breaststroke on Friday. Parsons will have to swim the race in 1:03.09 to qualify. Her previous best this season was 1:04.52 at the Purdue Invite and her all-time best at SIU is 1:03.41.
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The USA Swimming Winter Nationals officially begins on Wednesday, but Handley will swim in her first event on Thursday. On Friday both Handley and Parsons will swim in their respective time trials.
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The Winter National Championships, a part of USA Swimming's Championship Series, features collegiate, club and individual swimmers from around the nation. Florida, Ohio State, Michigan State, Louisville and MVC-foe Illinois State, as well as several other universities, will all send swimmers to the meet to compete alongside swimmers from some of the top under-18 swim clubs in the nation.
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As for SIU's swimmers, Handley will compete in the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday and the 1,650-yard freestyle on Saturday. She qualified for both events with a time of 16:29.21 in the 1,650-yard freestyle and a time of 4:47.96 in the 500-yard freestyle.  She is currently 36th in the NCAA in the 1,650-yard freestyle and 77th in the 500-yard freestyle.
Handley will also swim the time trials in the 200-yard freestyle to try to qualify for the event. To do so, she will need to swim the time trials with a time of 1:47.79. Her previous best time this season was 1:49.99 at the Purdue Invite. Handley has swum the 200-yard freestyle in 1:47.88 in previous seasons.
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For Parsons, she will swim in the finals of the 200-yard breaststroke on Saturday. She qualified for the event with a time of 2:15.46 at the MVC Championships earlier this year. She will also swim in the time trials of the 100-yard breaststroke on Friday. Parsons will have to swim the race in 1:03.09 to qualify. Her previous best this season was 1:04.52 at the Purdue Invite and her all-time best at SIU is 1:03.41.
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The USA Swimming Winter Nationals officially begins on Wednesday, but Handley will swim in her first event on Thursday. On Friday both Handley and Parsons will swim in their respective time trials.
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Players Mentioned
Freestyle
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