Posted: Nov 18, 2017
WESTFIELD, Mass. - Westfield State University's sophomore Kelsey Johnstone (Southwick, Mass. Westfield) set a new school record in the 200-yard breaststroke to help lead Westfield State University to a 155-143 victory over Smith College at Dalton Pool on Saturday.
With the win, the Owls moved to 3-1 in dual meet action this season, while the Pioneers slip to 1-4 overall.
Johnstone swam the 200-yard breaststroke in a time of 2:30.05 beating the previous school record of 2:32.01 set by Kirsten LaMotte in February of 2014. Johnstone anchored the 400-meter free relay in a time of 55.43 coming from a body's length behind and touch out the Smith swimmer by .5 seconds.
Johnstone also won the 200-meter freestyle (2:05.61) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.67).
Owls' freshman Kait Kelly (Hampden / Minnechaug Regional High School) contributed three wins for Westfield State including the 100-yard backstroke (1:03.95), the 200-yard backstroke (2:18.50) and the 200-yard IM (2:21.18).
Westfield State's Kelly, Tia Pariseau (Holden / St. Peter Marian), Shannon Fitzsimmons (Andover, Mas.) and Jordan Baker (Wilbraham / Minnechaug Regional High School) placed first in the 200-yard medley relay finishing in a time of 1:59.05 while Alex Frazier (Dracut, Mass.), Emma Colcord (Andover / Landmark High School), Samantha Thibault (Chicopee / Chicopee Comprehensive) and Johnstone also finished first in the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:59.34.
Other strong finishes for the Owls' includes Pariseau who placed first in both the 50-yard freestyle (26.13) and the 100-yard freestyle (58.10) and Fitzsimmons who placed first in the 1000-yard freestyle (11:19.40).
Westfield State will host UMass Dartmouth on December 2nd at 1:00 p.m.
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