LITTLE ROCK – The Trojans made a statement on Senior Day, securing a victory over in-state rivals Henderson State while also sizing up conference opponents Southern Illinois ahead of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Several Trojans delivered standout performances, achieving personal and season-best times in this meet. The highlight of the day came from
Olivia Elgin, who shattered the school record in the 200 freestyle, clocking an impressive 1:48.34. Freshman
Delaney Nickles dominated the podium in diving to claim first in the 1M.
"The ladies have been working really hard throughout the entire season and it's paying off. We got to celebrate our amazing seniors that have helped to create this program and we will always remember them. Go Trojans!" -said Graduate Assistant Coach, Emilia Martinez.
Relays
The Trojans opened the meet with a solid third-place finish in the 400 medley relay. The team of Caitlin Romprey, Adara Stoddard, Jaelle Carlson, and Elgin clocked a time of 3:48.73 to set the tone for Little Rock.
In the 200 freestyle relay, the Trojans came breathtakingly close to victory, securing second place with a time of 1:33.64—just six one-hundredths of a second behind Southern Illinois. The relay team, featuring Elgin, Gabriella O'Neil, Carlson, and Lauren Pieniazkiewicz, delivered a thrilling performance.
Freestyle
Izzy Thibodeau had a standout performance in the 1000 freestyle, finishing as the sole Trojan competitor in the event. She claimed second place with a time of 10:45.77, coming within a second of her personal best.
Elgin continued her dominance, starting with a monstrous swim in the 200 freestyle. Her time of 1:48.34 not only set a new school record but also shattered the pool record, marking a remarkable start to the day. Elgin didn't stop there—she went on to claim first place in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:58.78, the third-fastest in Little Rock Trojan history. Freshman Beatriz Comini Romero impressed in her debut, finishing fourth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:26.22.
The "Queen of Sprint Free," Carlson, lived up to her reputation with a stellar performance in the 50 freestyle, clocking 23.52—just 0.01 seconds behind SIU's winner—to secure second place. Fifth-year Cheryl Poulsen followed with a strong swim, taking fifth in 24.52.
Backstroke
Senior Romprey delivered a strong performance in the 100 backstroke, finishing fourth as the top Trojan with a time of 59.15. She returned later in the 200 backstroke, claiming fifth place with a time of 2:05.64. Fellow senior
Olivia Henderson wrapped up her afternoon with a solid swim in the 200 backstroke, finishing in 2:12.42.
Breaststroke
Freshman Stoddard impressed in the 100 breaststroke, finishing fifth with a time of 1:05.23, while senior Pieniazkiewicz followed closely behind in sixth place, clocking a time of 1:06.17.
In the 200 breaststroke, Stoddard continued her strong showing, claiming fourth place with a time of 2:23.08. Teammates Anna Nishizaki and Gillian Boggs rounded out the event with solid swims, finishing in 2:23.40 and 2:25.14, respectively.
Butterfly
Senior
Lara Alsader delivered a remarkable performance in the 200 butterfly, competing in the event for the first time and achieving an incredible personal best of 2:09.89 to secure fourth place. Freshman
Brooke Cummings also had a strong showing, finishing sixth with a time of 2:13.32.
Diving
Delaney Nickles showcased her diving skills with a first-place finish in the 1M event, earning a score of 253.95. She followed up with an impressive performance in the 3M diving event, scoring 233.18 points to claim second place.
The Trojans are set to hit the road next week, taking on Tulane in New Orleans on January 25th. Be sure to follow along for all the action and excitement!
For the latest information on Little Rock Swimming and Diving, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockSwim on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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