By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota swimming coach Amber Lowe could not have asked for a better start to the three-day Rochester Invitational Friday evening.
 
The Cardinals posted season-best efforts in every event they competed in during the first day of competition at the Rochester Rec Center.
 
Brooke Shefchik (Stevens Point, Wis.) posted a time of 5:33.91 to lead a quartet of Cardinal competitors in the 500 freestyle, followed by Katie Beitz (Blaine, Minn. / 5:53.43), Claire King (Red Wing, Minn. / 5:54.76), and Dakota Becerra (Yorba Linda, Calif. / 6:32.71).
 
The 800 freestyle relay team of Shefchik, Mara Caples (Rochester, Minn.), Ashlyn Seifert (Austin, Texas) , and Beitz posted a time of 8:31.58, while Olivia Fleming (Hugo, Minn.), King, Becerra, and Erica Camarato (DeForest, Wis.) delivered a time of 9:17.27.
 
In the 400 medley relay, Caples, Shefchik, Fleming, and Beitz touched the wall in 4:21.50 and King, Camarato, Katie Domack (Lakeville, Minn.), and Seifert stopped the clock in 4:30.98.
 
Prelims during the second day of the three-day event begin Saturday morning, with finals slated for Saturday evening.