The Bucknell men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams began competition at the unscored Princeton Open on Friday night. The two-day event mimics a championship meet without the heats. The second session will be contested Saturday morning, while the third and final session will take place Saturday afternoon.
On the women’s side, Molly Goebel (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) posted the best individual finish for the Bison, taking second in the 50-yard freestyle in 24.00 seconds. Abigail Atkinson (Newtown, Conn./Newtown), who also took ninth in the 200 individual medley, followed Goebel with a seventh-place showing in the 50 free. Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen) also had a top-10 showing in the 50 free.
Only two other individual events took place Friday evening and the top finishers for Bucknell in each posted season bests. Anna Griest (5:08.58), Megan Mongan (5:09.65) and Jamie Chakany (5:10.61) took 13th, 14th, and 15th in the 500 free, but each swam it in her fastest time of the year. Atkinson and Lauren Russell (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) each had season bests in the 200 IM.
In addition to the individual races, the 200 freestyle and 400 medley relays were swum and Bucknell placed fourth in both.
The men fared slightly better in the relays, taking second in the 400 medley relay and third in the 200 free relay. However, Daniel Fletcher’s fifth-place showing in the 200 IM was the best individual performance. Freshmen Christian Treat (seventh) and Billy Krause (eighth) were not far behind the senior.
Luke Trafton was the top finisher for the Bison in the 500 free, .01 seconds ahead of eighth-place teammate Jonathan Podniesinski, while Bryce Suchomel was the top Bucknell swimmer in the 50 free, placing 11th.
In addition to Bucknell and host Princeton, Fordham New York University and a small group of unattached swimmers are competing at the Princeton Open, which will continue on Saturday at DeNunzio Pool.
