By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Saint Mary's University swim coach Amber Lowe could not have asked for a better start to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.
 
The Cardinals posted one school record, and added pair of eighth-place finishes and a ninth-place effort during Wednesday's opening day of the four-day, season-ending event at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
 
The women's 800 freestyle relay team of Brooke Shefchik (Stevens Point, Wis.), Katie Beitz (Blaine, Minn.), Claire King (Red Wing, Minn.), and Ashlyn Seifert (Austin, Texas) broke their own 800 freestyle relay record — set at least year's event — touching the wall in 8:30.30 to place ninth.
 
Shefchik kicked off that 800 freestyle relay with a 200 time of 2:04.43 — the seventh-fastest time in program history.
 
The Cardinals' 200 medley relay teams each chipped in eighth-place performances — Griffin Rades (Shawano, Wis.), Josh Alvarado (Northlake, Ill.), Darren Anes Dy Quiangco (Rochester, Minn.), and Brennen McClay (Shakopee, Minn.) posted a time of 1:48.84, while the women's quartet of King, Erica Camarato (DeForest, Wis.), Seifert, and Dakota Becerra (Yorba Linda, Calif.) added a time of 2:07.77.
 
The Cardinals are back in the pool on Thursday for the second day of the four-day event. Prelims kick off at 10:30 a.m., with finals slated to start at 6:30 p.m.