The Seattle University women's swim team posted some impressive finishes, including an event victory, but the depth of both opponents proved to be too much to overcome, as the Redhawks lost to Air Force (135-77) and North Dakota (123-96) Saturday in a double dual meet at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Natatorium.
Kevlyn Richards (Gig Harbor, Wash.) won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.56, over two seconds faster than her nearest competitor. Earlier in the meet, Richards showed her improved speed with a second-place finish in the 50 freestyle in 25.06 seconds.
Bethany Gehrke (Lynnwood, Wash.) finished second in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 11:02.29, plus she had the third-fastest time in the 500 freestyle with a mark of 5:26.65. Karla Ruff (Seattle, Wash.) finished third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:00.10, plus she anchored the 400 freestyle relay team, joining with Melissa Randolf (Everett, Wash.), Jane Liggett (Portland, Ore.), and Nicole Doi (Pleasanton, Calif.) for the third-fastest time in that event at 3:39.48.
Caroline Van Maren (Bellevue, Wash.) enjoyed a solid meet, first finishing fourth in the 50 freestyle in 25.53 seconds, followed by the third-fastest time in the 100 breaststroke with a mark of 1:09.26. Dilynn D'Agostino (Gresham, Ore.) finished fourth in the 200 individual medley in 2:20.48, and Liggett earned a fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:00.63.
The quartet of Tiffany Dang (Bothell, Wash.), Richards, Randolf, and Doi finished third in the meet-opening 200 medley relay with a time of 1:51.71, just 1/10th of a second behind second place.
Seattle University (1-8) will take the next month to prepare for the Western Athletic Conference Championships, held at the Palo Alto Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 27-March 2.
