Full Meet Results | Photo Gallery 

ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University swimming and diving team completed the fourth and final day of the 2024 MAC Championships, hosted by Ohio University at the OU Aquatic Center. The Eagles finished in sixth-place, scoring 273 points.

Meet Notes (Prelims)
» One program top-10 time was swam in the 200y breaststroke.
» Four Eagles advanced to the finals.
» EMU saw six personal-best times.

How it Happened (Prelims)
Kiersten Russell (Clinton, Mich./Saline) placed 13th in the 200y backstroke, punching her ticket to the finals. Freshman Siporah Sang (London, Ontario/Sire Frederick Banting Secondary) finished 22nd in a personal-best, 2:03.57.

The freshman duo of Emma Littrell (Taylor Mill, Ky./St. Henry District) and Marlee Christie (Seminole, Fla./Seminole) placed 18th and 19th, missing the final cut by just two and three places, respectively, in the 100y freestyle. Littrell swam the distance in a personal-best, 51.28, while Christie clocked in at 51.44.

The 200y breaststroke saw strong performances from the Green and White. Abby Szadorski (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) bettered her eighth-best program time in the event as she touched the wall in 2:16.60, finishing 10th, and shaving 16 seconds off her previous lifetime-best. Joining Szadorski in the finals was Taylor Harris (Tiffin, Ohio/Calvert/Bowling Green), who finished 12th in 2:18.22.

Another freshman duo flew high in the event, as Tristen Mina (Santa Clara, Calif./The King's Academy) and Nina Larosa (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) finished 17th and 18th, missing the final cut by a mere one and two spots, respectively. Mina's 2:20.67 in the event marks a personal-best, while Larosa finished in 2:21.65.

Katarina Pastar (Vienna, Austria/Gymnasium) made the final cut in the 200y butterfly, placing 14th in a lifetime-best, 2:04.56. Additionally, Pastar was one of just three freshmen to make the finals in the event.

Meet Notes (Finals)
» The Eagles grabbed one top-10 finish in the finals, and swam a season-fastest 400y freestyle relay.

How it Happened (Finals)
Russell finished 11th in the 200y backstroke finals in 1:59.43, bettering her time and place from the preliminary round (13th – 2:00.96).

Szadorski finished 10th again in the 200y breaststroke finals in 2:17.66, while Harris bettered her standing from the prelims, slotting 11th in 2:17.71.

Pastar closed out Eastern's individual performances for the night, finishing 14th in the 200y butterfly finals in 2:04.93.

EMU swam a season-fastest 400y freestyle relay. The team of Christie, Lucy Noble (Flagler Beach, Fla./Flagler Palm Coast), Littrell, and Russell swam the event in 3:24.77, finishing in sixth-place, collecting 26 points for the Eagles.

In the 3m diving A-final, Rebekah Knapp (Mesa, Ariz./Skyline) finished second, scoring 301.15 points, marking Eastern's highest finish of the four-day meet. 

Head Diving Coach Buck Smith was named the MAC's Co-Diving Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the meet, marking his 25th time garnering the honor, and 15th time doing so for the women's team. Additionally, the award marks Smith's first since he earned it in the 2020-21 season.

Final Standings
1. Akron – 812.5
2. Miami – 652.5
3. Ohio – 583
4. Buffalo – 442
5. Ball State
6. Eastern Michigan – 273
7. Toledo – 230
8. Bowling Green – 149
 
EMU Results
Denotes Personal-Best*
Denotes Season-Fastest^

Prelims

200y Backstroke
13. Kiersten Russell – 2:00.96
22. Siporah Sang – 2:03.57*

100y Freestyle
18. Emma Littrell – 51.28*
19. Marlee Christie – 51.44
23. Katie Shoen – 51.84
26. Lucy Noble – 52.19
--- Sophie Gatrall – x52.86 (Ties Personal-Best)
--- Abbey Whipple – x53.40

200y Breaststroke
10. Abby Szadorski – 2:16.60* EMU #8
12. Taylor Harris – 2:18.22
17. Tristen Mina – 2:20.67*
18. Nina Larosa – 2:21.65
--- Madelyn Sursi – x2:25.10

200y Butterfly
14. Katarina Pastar – 2:04.56*
22. Sydney Ulmer – 2:09.10
24. Olivia Clarion – 2:10.73
--- Maren Romine – x2:07.29

Finals

200y Backstroke
11. Kiersten Russell – 1:59.43

200y Breaststroke
10. Abby Szadorski – 2:17.66
11. Taylor Harris – 2:17.71

200y Butterfly
14. Katarina Pastar – 2:04.93

3m Diving (A-Final)
2. Rebekah Knapp - 301.15

400y Freestyle Relay
6. EMU (Christie, Noble, Littrell, Russell) – 3:23.72^

2024 Women's Swimming & Diving Postseason Awards
Freshman Diver of the Year: Sophie Meuwissen, Buffalo
Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Zita Szoke, Ohio
Most Outstanding Diver: Marialis Kwak, Buffalo
Co-Diving Coaches of the Year: Russ Dekker, Buffalo // Buck Smith, Eastern Michigan
Most Outstanding Swimmer: Abby Daniel, Akron
Swimming Coach of the Year: Brian Peresie, Akron
Most Outstanding Senior: Nicole Maier, Miami

All-MAC First Team
Abby Daniel, Akron
Rebecca Reid, Akron
Maddy Gatrall, Akron
Rachel Sabotin, Akron
Weronika Gorecka, Akron
Astrid Halvorsen, Akron
Payton Kelly, Ball State
Callie Tuma, Ball State
Marialis Kwak, Buffalo
Nicole Maier, Miami
Honor Brodie-Foy, Miami
Casi DiBetta, Ohio
Zita Szoke, Ohio
Gabrielle Brust, Ohio
Gabby McKee, Ohio

All-MAC Second Team
Madeline Dyer, Akron
Kaja Reinhardt, Akron
Aislinn Holder, Akron
Giovanna Cappabianca, Akron
Sara Bozso, Akron
Laurel Smith, Akron 
Clarice Fisher, Buffalo
Greta Kolbeck, Miami
Madeline Padavic, Miami
Kaylin Herbet, Miami
Erin Szczupakiewicz, Miami
McKenzie Grau, Ohio
Julia Strine, Ohio
Lauren Kilgore, Toledo

Up Next 
Select Eastern swimmers will compete at the 2024 College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championships, March 14-16, in Ocala, Fla. EMU divers will next see the boards at the 2024 NCAA Zone C Diving Championships, March 14-16, in Louisville, Ky.