Milligan finishes day one with new relay record

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 4, 2020) – The Milligan College swim team began day one of the NAIA Swimming & Diving National Championships Wednesday afternoon and highlighted the day with a pair of top-20 finishes and a new 800 relay record. The women started the day off in the 800 freestyle relay with a 16th place finish with the men's 800 freestyle relay finishing in 15th place and setting a new Milligan record. 

The women's 800 freestyle relay team made up of Maggie Halloran, Kaylee Propst, Lindsey Grow and Anna Hathcock, beat their seed time by seven seconds to finish with a time of 8:19.24. Their 16th place finish was a spot ahead of their predicted finish, and two spots ahead from last year's 18th place finish at the national championships. This is the third year that Halloran and Prost have been a part of this national qualifying relay team. 

The men's 800 relay team of Jarod Blazo, Matthew McFalls, Logan Garzonio and Ben Hawkins finished with a time of 7:08.59, dropping six seconds from their seed time and breaking the record that was set at the 2017 national championships. McFalls has now competed in the 800 relay four times at the national championships and was a part of the squad that broke the record back in 2017.  

Up next, Milligan continues championship action Thursday for day two of the four-day event. On the schedule for Thursday are Halloran, Hawkins and Mitchell Martin in the 500 free; Grow and Garzonio in the 200 IM; McFalls in the 50 free; and the 400 medley relay. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. with finals at 6 p.m.