Halle, Watson event titles lead Women's Swimming & Diving on day two at OAC Championships
By Blake Moore
AKRON — Ohio Northern senior Kierra Watson (Brownsburg, Ind.) and junior Lauren Halle (Chandler Ariz./Hamilton) each won individual event titles for the ONU women's swimming and diving program Friday evening on the second day of the 2019 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships at Ocasek Natatorium in Akron.
After two days, the Polar Bears rank third in the team standings with 410 team points. John Carroll remains in the lead with 554 points, and Mount Union resides second with 485 points.
Senior Kierra Watson (Brownsburg, Ind.) claimed her first OAC championship event title in the 100-yard back event. The Brownsburg, Ind. native touched the wall in :57.35 to best the field by over two seconds and lead three Ohio Northern scorers in the event.
In addition, Halle and sophomore Marissa Taylor (Granite Falls, N.C./South Caldwell) went 1-2 in the 400 individual medley with 4:36.39 and 4:41.76 clockings, respectively. Both earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference accolades for the event, and Halle captured her fourth conference title in three seasons at ONU.
Watson, juniors Katey Stuart (Ada) and Kyley Stuart (Ada), and freshman Megan Lubinski (Milford/Brighton) opened the evening with a second-place performance in the 200 medley relay in 1:49.05 to capture All-OAC kudos.
Junior diver Libby Sartschev (Parma/Normandy) posted a career-best, third-place effort in the one-meter dive competition with 304.60 points. With the result, she garners her first All-OAC accolade at Ohio Northern.
Halle, freshman Sydney Augspurger (Dalton), Parsons, and Taylor concluded the evening with a fourth-place mark in the 800 free relay in 8:13.90.
Meanwhile, freshman Mya Parsons (Castle Rock, Colo./Arapahoe) secured a fifth-place finish in the 100 fly with a 1:00.45 touch, leading four Ohio Northern scorers in the event.
The OAC Swimming and Diving Championships will conclude tomorrow with a preliminary round scheduled for 10 a.m. and event finals beginning at 5:45 p.m. inside Ocasek Natatorium.
Team Standings (Thru Day 2):
1. John Carroll 554, 2. Mount Union 485, 3. Ohio Northern 410, 4. Baldwin Wallace 370, 5. Wilmington 170
