Southern Illinois University
A3 Performance Invitational
Recap | Salukis Conclude Record-Breaking A3 Invitational with a Sweep
11/16/2024 | 8:48:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois swimming and diving team closed out the final day of the A3 Performance Invitational with a sweep. The women finished with 1,140 points, and the men finished with 1,023 points.
"We feel really good about the weekend of swimming and diving. It is an indication of where we are just about halfway through the season and lots of good feedback on what we need to adjust moving forward" head coach Geoff Hanson said.
Day three saw multiple MVC records set, beginning with Willem Huggins breaking the men's 200-yard backstroke record with a time of 1:45.77. He later broke that record again with a 1:44.85.
Olivia Herron also set a new MVC record in the women's 200-yard breaststroke at 2:09.63, breaking her own record in the finals session with a 2:09.60. Additionally, the Salukis set a new conference record in the men's 400-yard medley relay with a time of 2:54.59.
Southern Illinois' Olivia Herron and Alex Santiago were named the women's and men's Swimmers of the Meet, respectively.
Final Standings
Women
- Southern Illinois - 1,140
- Omaha - 765.5
- Bellarmine - 412
- Southern Indiana - 389.5
- Evansville - 306
- Eastern Illinois - 226
- Indiana State - 40
Men
- Southern Illinois - 1,023
- Omaha - 745
- Bellarmine - 475
- Evansville - 426.5
- Southern Indiana - 380.5
- Eastern Illinois - 194
Prelims
The final day began with the women's 200-yard backstroke, where the Southern Illinois women secured the top three finishes, led by Celia Pulido. Liseska Gallegos placed second, followed by Brooklyn Anderson in third. On the men's side, Willem Huggins highlighted the event with a record-breaking first-place finish. John Cameron and Alex Brodsky also had top-eight finishes, qualifying for the "A" finals.
In the women's 100-yard freestyle, Bea Padron was the top Saluki finisher, taking second place, with Susana Hernandez close behind in third. Zaria Terry, Masha Zhukova, and Jasmine Rau also secured top-eight finishes, qualifying for the "A" finals.
The Saluki men swept the podium in the 100-yard freestyle. AJ Terry claimed first place, followed by Benedek Andor and Alex Cimera.
In the women's 200-yard breaststroke, Olivia Herron led another Saluki podium sweep with her record-breaking first-place finish. Madalyn Booker and Ali Robertson completed the podium in second and third. On the men's side, Henrique Pacheco and Tiago Faleiros secured the top two qualifying spots for the "A" finals.
In the 200-yard butterfly, Jules Atkinson was the top finisher for the Salukis in the women's event with a time of 2:04.24. For the men, Nico Lanunza placed second with a time of 1:49.87.
Finals
The final session of the 2024 A3 Performance Invitational began with the 1,650-yard freestyle. In the women's race, Fernanda Sanchez secured first place, while Apryl Paquette finished second. For the men, Tomas Peciar earned a second-place finish.
In the 200-yard backstroke, Celia Pulido was victorious with a 1:54.44 finish, followed by Liseska Gallegos in second at 1:57.92. In the men's race, Willem Huggins broke his own record from earlier in the day, setting a new MVC record with a time of 1:44.85.
In the 100-yard freestyle, Susana Hernandez was the overall winner with a time of 50.08 seconds. Bea Padron finished second at 50.75. The Saluki men claimed all three podium spots, with AJ Terry in first, followed by Benedek Andor and Alex Cimera.
Southern Illinois swept the podium in the women's 200-yard breaststroke, with Herron's record-breaking finish leading the way. She was followed by Madalyn Booker in second and Ali Robertson in third. The Saluki men took the top two spots in the 200-yard breaststroke, with Henrique Pacheco finishing first and Tiago Faleiros in second.
In the 200-yard butterfly, Hazem Aboustate claimed first place in the men's race with a time of 1:49.23. On the women's side, Jules Atkinson secured second place with a time of 2:04.86.
The invitational concluded with the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Saluki men's relay team of Alex Santiago, AJ Terry, Benedek Andor, and Willem Huggins set a new MVC record with a time of 2:54.59 to take first place. The Southern Illinois women's relay team of Susana Hernandez, Bea Padron, Zaria Terry, and Celia Pulido finished first with a time of 3:20.95.
"The group heading to the Purdue Invitational next week will look to take the next steps towards best times and NCAA qualification" said Hanson.
The Salukis will return to action Thursday, Nov. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Purdue Invitational.
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Players Mentioned
