Marshall University Athletics
Thursday, February 15
Orlando, Fla.
10 AM/Diving 1 PM
Marshall University
vs
Sun Belt Conference Championships - Day 2 (Prelims)
Photo by: Cody Linn
Laban Wins 500 Freestyle on Day Two of SBC S&D Championships
2/15/2024 10:42:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Six podium finishes for Marshall
Results (PDF) | Championship Fund
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Marshall University Swimming and Diving team had big performances on day two of the Sun Belt Swimming and Diving Championships. Eszter Laban won the 500 Freestyle and Grace Kelsheimer placed second in the 3m Dive along with qualifying for NCAA Zones on Thursday.
"Another great session tonight," Herd swimming and diving head coach Ian Walsh said. "Eszter getting her hand on the wall in a dog fight of a race really set the tone for the meet. Molly (Warner), Paige (Banton) and Audrey (West) moved up from their seeds and are now second, fourth and eighth all time in program history in the 200 Individual Medley. Molly and Paige getting second and third was another highlight of the meet. It was a tight finish for the 50 Freestyle. Klava (Katayama) had a great last 10 meters and was able to get her hand on the wall for third tonight."
Laban closed out the 500 Freestyle strong with a time of 4:53.07 to earn the team's second first-place finish of the week to kickoff finals.
MU followed that up by earning 54 points in the 200 Individual Medley led by a second-place finish from Molly Warner (2:01.27), a third-place finish from Paige Banton (2:01.51) and eighth-place finish from Audrey West (2:04.57). All three were top-10 performances in program history.
The Herd's highest scoring event came in the 50 Freestyle (61 points) as it had four qualifiers in the A Final of the 'splash and dash.' Klava Katayama captured the bronze medal (23.27). Madeline Hart followed in fourth (23.31) with Parker Lynch taking fifth (23.32) and Mia McBride finishing in eighth (23.58)
"Grace Kelsheimer had a phenomenal showing today on 3 meter, earning second place in finals and being only the second diver in program history to break 300," Walsh said. "Larissa (Munksgard got into the A final through prelims and had two lifetime best performances. Grace and Larissa are now second and seventh all time in program history."
Kelsheimer had a great day on the boards finishing the finals with a lifetime best 301.85 in the 3m Dive, becoming just the second student-athlete in program history to eclipse the 300-point plateau. The mark also qualified the junior for NCAA Diving Zones.
Larissa Munksgard also qualified for the finals in the event and posted a score of 264.70.
"Our final relay was our 10th fastest performance all time. Parker (Lynch) had a great leg that created separation leading to a second-place finish."
The final event of the session was the 200 Freestyle Relay with Katayama, Parker Lynch, McBride and Gabrielle Ivey competing for The Herd. They finished the relay in 1:33.00, good for second place and the 10th fastest time in program history.
"Tomorrow will be a great day for us and I'm looking forward to our women stepping up to the challenge."
RESULTS
500 Freestyle
A Final
1st – Eszter Laban (4:53.07)
8th – Charlotte Thompson (5:02.19)
200 Individual Medley
A Final
2nd – Molly Warner (2:01.27)
3rd – Paige Banton (2:01.51)
8th – Audrey West (2:04.07)
B Final
10th – Allison Dodd (2:05.38)
15th – Jessica Humby (2:06.13)
16th – Tatum Robinson (2:09.15)
C Final
18th – Katie Fisher (2:08.53)
23rd – Grace Valenza (2:10.23)
50 Freestyle
A Final
3rd – Klava Katayama (23.27)
4th – Madeline Hart (23.31)
5th – Parker Lynch (23.32)
8th – Mia McBride (23.58)
B Final
13th – Gabrielle Ivey (23.87)
16th – Lauren Ramsey (24.16)
C Final
17th – Nina Nugent (23.98)
18th – Claire Kenney (24.08)
22nd – Grace Cox (24.25)
3m Dive
Finals
2nd – Grace Kelsheimer (301.85)
8th – Larissa Munksgard (264.70)
Consolations
13th – Alaina Laster (228.50)
15th – Gabrielle Grace (207.35)
200 Freestyle Relay
2nd – Klava Katayama, Parker Lynch, Mia McBride, Gabrielle Ivey (1:33.00)
UP NEXT
Marshall readies for day three of the SBC Championships on Friday beginning with prelims at 10 a.m.
To donate to the Championship Fund for Marshall swimming & diving, please click HERE. All proceeds go directly to the Marshall swimming & diving.
For the latest information on Marshall swimming & diving, follow on X @HerdSwimDive and Instagram at @HerdWSwimDive and online at HerdZone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Marshall University Swimming and Diving team had big performances on day two of the Sun Belt Swimming and Diving Championships. Eszter Laban won the 500 Freestyle and Grace Kelsheimer placed second in the 3m Dive along with qualifying for NCAA Zones on Thursday.
"Another great session tonight," Herd swimming and diving head coach Ian Walsh said. "Eszter getting her hand on the wall in a dog fight of a race really set the tone for the meet. Molly (Warner), Paige (Banton) and Audrey (West) moved up from their seeds and are now second, fourth and eighth all time in program history in the 200 Individual Medley. Molly and Paige getting second and third was another highlight of the meet. It was a tight finish for the 50 Freestyle. Klava (Katayama) had a great last 10 meters and was able to get her hand on the wall for third tonight."
Laban closed out the 500 Freestyle strong with a time of 4:53.07 to earn the team's second first-place finish of the week to kickoff finals.
MU followed that up by earning 54 points in the 200 Individual Medley led by a second-place finish from Molly Warner (2:01.27), a third-place finish from Paige Banton (2:01.51) and eighth-place finish from Audrey West (2:04.57). All three were top-10 performances in program history.
The Herd's highest scoring event came in the 50 Freestyle (61 points) as it had four qualifiers in the A Final of the 'splash and dash.' Klava Katayama captured the bronze medal (23.27). Madeline Hart followed in fourth (23.31) with Parker Lynch taking fifth (23.32) and Mia McBride finishing in eighth (23.58)
"Grace Kelsheimer had a phenomenal showing today on 3 meter, earning second place in finals and being only the second diver in program history to break 300," Walsh said. "Larissa (Munksgard got into the A final through prelims and had two lifetime best performances. Grace and Larissa are now second and seventh all time in program history."
Kelsheimer had a great day on the boards finishing the finals with a lifetime best 301.85 in the 3m Dive, becoming just the second student-athlete in program history to eclipse the 300-point plateau. The mark also qualified the junior for NCAA Diving Zones.
Larissa Munksgard also qualified for the finals in the event and posted a score of 264.70.
"Our final relay was our 10th fastest performance all time. Parker (Lynch) had a great leg that created separation leading to a second-place finish."
The final event of the session was the 200 Freestyle Relay with Katayama, Parker Lynch, McBride and Gabrielle Ivey competing for The Herd. They finished the relay in 1:33.00, good for second place and the 10th fastest time in program history.
"Tomorrow will be a great day for us and I'm looking forward to our women stepping up to the challenge."
RESULTS
500 Freestyle
A Final
1st – Eszter Laban (4:53.07)
8th – Charlotte Thompson (5:02.19)
200 Individual Medley
A Final
2nd – Molly Warner (2:01.27)
3rd – Paige Banton (2:01.51)
8th – Audrey West (2:04.07)
B Final
10th – Allison Dodd (2:05.38)
15th – Jessica Humby (2:06.13)
16th – Tatum Robinson (2:09.15)
C Final
18th – Katie Fisher (2:08.53)
23rd – Grace Valenza (2:10.23)
50 Freestyle
A Final
3rd – Klava Katayama (23.27)
4th – Madeline Hart (23.31)
5th – Parker Lynch (23.32)
8th – Mia McBride (23.58)
B Final
13th – Gabrielle Ivey (23.87)
16th – Lauren Ramsey (24.16)
C Final
17th – Nina Nugent (23.98)
18th – Claire Kenney (24.08)
22nd – Grace Cox (24.25)
3m Dive
Finals
2nd – Grace Kelsheimer (301.85)
8th – Larissa Munksgard (264.70)
Consolations
13th – Alaina Laster (228.50)
15th – Gabrielle Grace (207.35)
200 Freestyle Relay
2nd – Klava Katayama, Parker Lynch, Mia McBride, Gabrielle Ivey (1:33.00)
UP NEXT
Marshall readies for day three of the SBC Championships on Friday beginning with prelims at 10 a.m.
To donate to the Championship Fund for Marshall swimming & diving, please click HERE. All proceeds go directly to the Marshall swimming & diving.
For the latest information on Marshall swimming & diving, follow on X @HerdSwimDive and Instagram at @HerdWSwimDive and online at HerdZone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
---HerdZone.com---
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
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