EVANSVILLE, IN. - Championship momentum continued to surge for the Little Rock Trojans on day two, as finals appearances across every session, record-breaking swims, and podium finishes defined another statement day in the pool. After two days of competition, the Trojans sit in sixth place overall, firmly in the mix as the meet continues.
Junior Lena Nikolaeva got the night started in the C final, lowering her morning time to 56.38 to earn third place and set the tone for a productive evening.
The 400 IM proved to be a major scoring event for the Trojans, showcasing both depth and firepower. Three Trojans advanced to the B final, led by freshman Lulu Szumski, who placed fourth in a personal best of 4:29.34. Fellow freshman Melanie Fulton followed with a sixth-place finish in 4:30.31, while junior Niamh Carroll capped a massive day by clocking 4:34.62 for eighth after a big personal best in the morning, adding valuable championship points.
Freshman Megan Stewart delivered one of the standout swims of the meet in the A final of the 400 IM. Just off her lifetime best and school record, Stewart surged to second place in 4:17.71, marking the highest finish ever by a Trojan in the event in her championship debut.
The Trojans carried that momentum straight into the 200 freestyle, where they were represented in every final. Freshman Lyla Roper posted an impressive personal best of 1:52.16 to take second in the C final. In the B final, sophomore Beatriz Comini Romero continued her breakout meet with a personal best of 1:50.01, just shy of the sub-1:49 barrier, to earn second place. Junior Anna Nishizaki followed in 1:52.39 to finish eighth. In the A final, junior Olivia Elgin closed the individual events in style, breaking her own school record with a time of 1:47.45 to take third place.
The final event of the evening brought the loudest finish. The 200 medley relay delivered a record-breaking performance as Amara Addison led off with a school-record split of 25.21 in the 50 backstroke. Adara Stoddard followed on breaststroke, Olivia Elgin powered through the butterfly leg, and Lena Nikolaeva anchored the relay home. The quartet touched in 1:40.18 to secure third place and cap off a night filled with momentum, history, and championship confidence.
"I believe we just had one of the most successful conference sessions in program history for the Trojans," said Nathan Townsend. "We brought home three podium finishes, highlighted by our highest finish ever in the 400 IM and what we believe is also our top finish all-time in the 200 medley relay to close out the night. We recorded four official school records, including Amara's leadoff 50 backstroke in the medley relay, which not only broke our record but stands as the fastest time in the entire conference this season.
"Race after race, the energy kept building. The team fed off one another all night long. Our 200 freestylers stepped up in a big way. The 400 IM group delivered outstanding performances, and in the 100 butterfly, we found ways to get faster when it mattered most.
"We are officially halfway through the meet, and the belief, confidence, and competitiveness in this group is something special. We're incredibly excited for some of our best events tomorrow and can't wait to see what this team is capable of as we head into the final stretch."
200y Butterfly - Women
200y Butterfly - Men
100y Breaststroke - Women
100y Breaststroke - Men
100y Backstroke - Women
100y Backstroke - Men
3-Meter Diving - Men
800y Freestyle Relay - Women
800y Freestyle Relay - Men
Standings after Day 2:
- Indiana State - 639
- Southern Illinois - 634
- Missouri State - 631.5
- UIC - 514.5
- Northern Iowa - 424
- Little Rock - 423
- Illinois State - 307
- Evansville - 169
- Valparaiso - 129
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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