Women's Swimming and Diving | February 19, 2016

GENEVA, Ohio- Sophomore Emma Smith and freshman Olivia DiStefano qualified for the Championship Finals in the 400 IM and 100 Backstroke while junior Eva Marie Oesterhus reached the consolation finals during the morning preliminaries on day three of the Atlantic 10 Championships at the Spire Institute.
 
DiStefano was the top qualifier in the 100 yard backstroke preliminaries thanks to swimming a 55.75 second time in the prelims. She was .07 seconds clear of the field to qualify for Friday night's finals in the event.
 
Sophomores Natalie Simmunek (59.45) and Alison McDonough (1:02.62) also swam in the event finishing in 31^st and 36^th places respectively.
 
Smith swam a 4:24.78 to reach the finals in the 400 yard IM. Smith improved 1.73 seconds from her previous best time this season. Oesterhus reached the consolation finals thanks to a time of 4:27.05. She was just .63 seconds behind the eighth place finisher and joining Smith in the Championship Finals.
 
Freshman Mary Harrington (4:34.40, 26^th place) and sophomores Hannah Elliott (4:36.96, 30^th place) and Danielle Thomas (4:37.15, 32^nd place) also swam in the event.
 
Junior Kate Hay narrowly missed out on a spot in the finals of the 200 yard freestyle. Hay touched in 19^th place with a time of 1:53.17, just .63 seconds behind the 16^th place finisher and a spot in the consolation finals.
 
Sophomore Rory Kearns (1:56.37, 41^st place), junior Tanawan Sukonthapanich *1:58.09, t-47^th place), freshman Siobhan McDonough (1:59.00, 50^th place), senior Hayley Miles (1:59.30, 51^st place) and freshman Shannon Battis (2:01.95, 53^rd place) also swam for La Salle.
 
Senior Kelsey Jenkinson turned in a 1:05.65 time in the prelims for the 100 yard breaststroke for a 19^th place finish. Jenkinson was just .72 seconds out of 16^th place and a spot in the consolation finals. Sophomore Maddy Koelsch (1:07.29, 29^th place) and sophomore Danielle Thomas (1:07.99, 31^st place) also swam.
 
Junior Julia Mann (1:00.18, 37^th place) and sophomore Alison McDonough (1:00.73, 40^th place) swam in the 100 yard butterfly prelims.