College Swimming: Despite winning eight of the 14 events, Marshall swimming was defeated by Duquesne in an exciting, closely-fought 138-124 dual-meet Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Thundering Herd (5-7) won the meet’s first three events then won another three straight later in the meet but the Dukes (4-6) took the final two events, including the deciding 200-yard freestyle relay at the end for the victory.
Three MU swimmers were multiple winners on Saturday. Kacey Preun, Sarah Kay and freshman Danica Ross all scored more than one win. Kaley Gregory was the other individual winner for the Herd Saturday.
Marshall got off to a fast start, winning the opening event of the meet, the 400 medley relay. Kelsey Ferguson, Madison Lawhorn, Kay and Lauren Hurd teamed up to post their team’s best time of the year at 4:00.86 and the first win of the year in the event to get action started.
Preun would follow up in the next event, the 1000 freestyle, with her first win of afternoon. She posted a time of 10:29.38 for her third victory of the season in the event.
The Herd’s hot streak to start the meet continued with Ross in the 200 free. The freshman, competing in the event for the first time of her MU career, touched the wall first with a time of 1:56.20.
In the next two events Duquesne would seize momentum with wins in each. Marshall however would break that with a victory from Kay in the 200 fly (2:05.28). The junior has all six of her team’s wins in the event this season and that is the most by any MU swimmer in an event this season.
The two teams would then trade wins next. After the Dukes won the 50 free, Ross answered with her second win of the day and third career win in the 100 free with a time of 53.22.
Duquesne was able answer with a win in the 200 backstroke. However, MU would put together its second streak of three straight wins to control the meet at the time.
Preun got things started with a win in the 200 breaststroke, posting a time of 2:25.21. Gregory followed as she was victorious in the 500 free with a performance of 5:10.25. Kay concluded the Herd’s streak by claiming victory in 100 fly with a time of 58.60, thus sweeping the meet’s butterfly events.
With victory in the balance between the two squads, the Dukes were able edge out Marshall in the final two victories, the 200 individual medley and 200 free relay, to capture the win.
Saturday’s meet concluded the Herd’s regular season schedule. It will now prepare for the Conference USA Championships in Houston, Texas Feb 20-23.
This is an unedited press release.