Isabel French set a new school record in the 100-yard breaststroke and the VMI women's team also set a new freshman record in the 200 medley relay, as the Keydet swimming and diving programs opened their seasons Friday at the Potomac Relay Invitational in Washington, D.C.
French recorded a time of 1:12.59 on the opening leg of the rarely contested 300 breast relay to break the previous school record, which had been held by teammate Rebecca Serrano, by nearly a full second.
French was also a part of the freshman record setting effort in the 200 medley relay, where she teamed with Morgan Davis, Calle Biles and Emma Noble to record a mark of 2:00.85, which was over five seconds faster than any Keydet team of freshmen had ever finished.
On the men's side, VMI recorded a runner-up finish in the 1000 free relay, where two swimmers split the distance. David Turbyfill and Matt Johnson touched the wall in 10:19.86 to finish second.
The Keydets also recorded a pair of third-place finishes, doing so in both the 500 free relay, 200 free relay and 200 medley relay. In the medley, four freshmen - Jacob Smilie, Jarred Nagle, William Soldow and Ryan Schmitz - timed in at 1:40.75. The 500 free relay (4:25.65) featured Schmitz, Nikolas Nemceff, Johnson and Turbyfill, while the 200 free relay (1:29.51) was comprised of Nemceff, Brady Gannon, Jarred Nagle and Schmitz.
As a team, the VMI men placed fourth overall at the five-team meet, won by George Mason. VMI bested American by six points. On the women's side, the Keydets finished fifth and, once again, Mason was the winning squad.
VMI swimming and diving will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 8, when the Keydets participate in a tri-meet against Manhattan and Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Md.
