CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho won all five events to grab a big lead after Day 1 of the Association of Independent Institutions Virtual Championships inside the J.A. Albertson Aquatics Center.
Competing in a championship meet format, the Yotes hold a 234-80 lead on Loyola (La.) in the three-day meet.
Individual wins by
Reina Watkins,
Micah Sharples and
Maya Murphy set the tone for the Yotes, who swept both relay events.
Watkins chopped 24 seconds off her season-best time in the 500-yard freestyle, winning in a time of 5:31.22 – 14 seconds clear of teammate
Elizabeth Beck (5:45.30).
Sharples (2:22.19) outdueled teammate
Emily Miller (2:29.20) in the 200-yard IM, with Murphy clocking a time of 24.36 seconds to win the 50-yard freestyle – a Top-15 time in the NAIA this season.
Murphy, along with
Anna Cook,
Maddison Rice and
Caroline Yannelli teamed for a win in the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.82), with Sharples, Yannelli, Cook and Murphy combining to win the 400-yard medley relay (4:04.50).
Two C of I athletes competed in exhibition races –
Laurel Rowe in the 1,650-Yard freestyle (20:02.43) and Rice in the 100-yard butterfly (59.11).
Day 2 of the meet begins tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. – live on the Yotes Digital Network.