Top-4 finishes for Iowa Central at nationals

Top-4 finishes for Iowa Central at nationals

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - Behind several more Top-8 finishes, both the Iowa Central men and women secured Top-4 team finishes here Saturday night at the NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.

Despite bringing just nine athletes to the meet, the Triton women placed third overall. Iowa Central was fourth in the men's race as Indian Rivers State doubled up once again with Southwestern Oregon placing second. 

Lily Wright and Leticia Dias each had fourth place individual finishes, while the duo paired up with Maria Goncalves and Nancy Olson to earn fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.

Wright, a national champion earlier this week, was fourth in the 200 breaststroke in 2:20.19. Dias claimed fourth in the 1,650 freestyle in 18:03.33, while the relay went 3:38.28, setting a new school record. 

Goncalves was also fifth in the 200 back (2:09.77) with Andrea Gallardo Perez placing seventh in the 1,650 free (18:47.06). Saige Knight was eighth in the 1,650 free (18:58.91) and Emily Small eighth in the 200 back (2:17.95). 

Olson added a ninth in the 50 butterfly with Penny Lawrence placing 10th in the 1,650 free.

On the men's side, Sam Brennan, Nikola Trajanovski, Quintin Tayali and Kyle McKenzie finished fourth in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:06.87. 

Brady Ferguson was fifth in the 1,650 free (16:46.6) with Trajanovski placing sixth in both the 50 butterfly (22.51) and 100 free (45.85). Brennan was seventh in the 50 butterfly (22.63) and 100 free (46.46), Brendon Chadd finished seventh in the 1,650 free (16:47.19) and McKenzie seventh in the 200 breaststroke (2:04.66).

Gavin Hall had a ninth in the 200 back and Pedro Aragon was 10th in the 50 butterfly. 

-By Dana Becker