Banagan, Richter Shine at USJ Pentathlon Meet
Westfield State’s Alexa Richter (Westfield, Mass.) won the University of St. Joseph’s swimming pentathlon, and the Owls' Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) snagged the diving title at the unique early-season meet on Friday in Hartford.
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Westfield State's Alexa Richter (Westfield, Mass.) won the University of St. Joseph's swimming pentathlon, and the Owls' Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) snagged the diving title at the unique early-season meet on Friday in Hartford.
Richter posted the fastest times of the day in the 50 backstroke (29.85) the 50 freestyle (26.18) and the 100 individual medley (1:05.32).
Swimmers competed in a total of five events (hence, the pentathlon) adding the 50 butterfly and the 50 breaststroke. Richter's combined time of 3:03.84 was more than three full seconds ahead of her closest competitor, Eastern Connecticut's Tasha Frisch.
41 competitors participated in the meet from five schools. Westfield also got strong performances from Jackie Roccabruna (Pittsfield, Mass.) placed 10th with a combined time of 3:20.39, and Liv Harkins (Woburn, Mass.) was 12th in 3:23.14
Banagan scored 191 on the 1-meter board to best four competitors in the lone diving event of the day.
Westfield will be back in action again on Sunday, competing at Simmons College in Boston at 1:00 p.m.