Buff trio breaks five records

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 7, 2020) – Kaylee Williams, Gabby MacPherson and Stephen Gilbert accounted for five broken records as the Milligan University swimming team competed Saturday at Carson-Newman. Williams broke Milligan's 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke records, MacPherson rebroke the 200 butterfly, and Stephen Gilbert reset the 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley records, winning both races as well.

"We had a very strong showing today against Carson-Newman, who would have finished 11th on the women's side and 14th on the men's side at the NCAA Division II national championships last year," Head Coach Spencer Scarth said. "I have a lot of respect for Coach Taylor and for what he is doing with that program.

"We were fortunate to be able to have this meet given everything that is going on," Scarth added. "Our team was very thankful for the opportunity. Our team responded well to the challenge of racing a team of their caliber. We still have some work to do and some polishing of details, but we are set up very well for a great meet next weekend at Union, who won our conference last year and is currently ranked No. 10 in the coaches poll."

Records broken and reset

The day started with a highlight in the 100-yard breaststroke as Williams swam to runner-up with a time of 1:09.67. She followed 10 events later with a runner-up swim in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:30.63. Both times set a new Milligan record formerly held by Lindsey Grow in 1:10.58 and 2:33.66, respectively.

In between Williams' record-breaking swims, MacPherson broke her own 200 butterfly record by one second, swimming 2:10.79. Previously, MacPherson held the record since the last time Milligan competed, when she swam 2:11.76 at the King Invitational one month ago.

Gilbert then wrapped up the meet with his record-breaking swims in the 200 backstroke and 200 IM. He swam 1:52.39 in the 200 back and, like MacPherson, broke his own record by swimming a hair faster than what he did in the season opener at the King Invitational (1:53.17). He won the 200 back by nearly eight seconds.

Gilbert followed eight events later with a 1:53.35 in the 200 IM, topping Sterling Burnett's previous record of 1:57.51, set in 2017.

Up next

Milligan competes one more time this semester, at Union next Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. The Buffs will then break from competition until 2021 when they will finish their 2020-21 season in the spring semester.