Sun Sets Pool Record, Marquardt And Smithwick Also Win Events At Big Al Invitational

Heidi Smithwick

Sun Sets Pool Record, Marquardt And Smithwick Also Win Events At Big Al Invitational

December 02, 2023 | Women's Swimming and Diving

Eleanor Sun and Dakota Tucker are barely into their freshman seasons with the Princeton women's swimming and diving team, and yet the record book seems to be in danger every time they take to the pool.

One night after they both broke the old school record in the 200 Individual Medley, Sun and Tucker swam the second- and third-fastest 400 IMs in program history, finishing first and second in the event at the Big Al Invitational Saturday night. Sun's 4:06.07 may have been nearly four seconds behind the school record set by the great Alicia Aemisegger in 2010, but it did break the DeNunzio Pool record. Tucker finished in 4:07.63, as both Tigers reached the NCAA Championship provisional standard.

The night ended with Princeton in control in the 10-team standings with 551.5 points, ahead of second-place North Carolina with 444 and third-place Penn State with 436.5.

Ellie Marquardt won the 200 freestyle in 1:45.56, for another NCAA provisional time. Heidi Smithwick did the same with a 53.14 time in the 100 butterfly, which gave her a first place finish and NCAA B time as well.

The Tigers went 1-2 in the 200 medley relay as well, with Alexa Pappas, Eliza Brown, Margaret Hayes and Ela Noble in first at 1:39.27 and Isabella Korbly, Margaux McDonald, Smithwick and Sabrina Johnson a half-second behind. The result was 37 points for the Tigers.

Johnston, Marquardt, Sun and Smithwick also won the 800 free relay.

The Big Al event concludes Sunday, with preliminaries at 10 am and finals at 5 pm.

Also, at the USA Diving Winter Nationals, Charlotte Martinkus finished 37th on the 1-meter with a score of 183.20.