By
DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
ROCHESTER, Minn. — After putting together a memorable performance during the Rochester Invitational Saturday — including 25 season-bests, seven lifetime bests, and three finals appearances — the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota swimming and diving teams picked up right where they left off during Sunday's final day of the three-day meet.
The Cardinals posted 13 more season-best performances, as well as four lifetime bests — and once again qualified for three finals.
Cole Stepanovich, who placed third in the 200 butterfly C Final Saturday evening, earned a pair of finals appearances on Sunday, posting a qualifying time of 2:15.64 in the 200 IM, while adding a time of 57.84 to reach the finals in the 100 butterfly.
Darren Anes Dy Quiangco joined Stepanovich in the 200 IM finals, thanks to a season-best effort of 2:20.35,and also recorded a season-best time of 58.29 in the 100 butterfly, while
Casey Hanson chipped in a lifetime-best 56.14 in the 100 freestyle.
In the 200 IM finals, Stepanovich delivered a lifetime-best 2:10.90 and Anes Dy Quiangco add chipped in a 2:17.54 — also a lifetime-best — while Stepanovich notched a 57.62 season-best showing in the 100 butterfly final.
Alex Morrow posted his best 1,650 freestyle time of the season, stopping the clock in 16:24.24, while Brooke Shefchik and Amanda Hansen recorded season-best times of 19:30.97 and 20:56.51, respectively, in the event.
Also on the women's side, Emme Quandt notched a pair of season-best performances in the 200 IM (2:37.51) and 100 butterfly (1:08.33), and Amanda Hansen recorded her best time of the year in the 200 backstroke (2:33.50).
Saint Mary's boasted five swimmers in the women's 100 freestyle, with three Ashlyn Seifert (57.90), Katie Beitz (59.33), and Claire King (1:01.06) — posting season-best swims, with Abby Propsom (1:04.36) and Dakota Becarra (1:08.29) adding lifetime bests.
The Cardinals are now off until Jan. 19, when they head to Ripon, Wis., for a dual against Ripon.
