WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Hosting its first home swim meet since Feb. 2, 2010, the Salem swim team wrapped up a solid performance against visiting Pfeiffer on Saturday, Nov. 9 as part of Family Weekend and Fall Open House on campus. Pfeiffer came away with the 113-63 team win, however Salem closed with nine Top-3 finishes.
The Spirits were led by the duo of Allison Wakefield and Olivia Kleven, who combined for three first-place performances in the meet. Wakefield laid claim to the top spot in the 400 freestyle, after streaking down the pool in a time of 6:22.58, marking the best finish of her collegiate career.
Kleven, who now has three first-place outings in her Spirits' career, was first in both the 100 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. She becomes the first Salem swimmer to claim two first place finishes in a season since Bethany Eaton in 2009-10. Kleven also becomes the fourth swimmer to post at least three career first-place outings, joining Bethany Eaton, Rachel Fichthorn and Paige Martin as Spirits to achieve the feat.
The afternoon began with the 50-yard backstroke, where Ashleigh Nelson (42.46) and Kristen Kellogg (1:00.87) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Corrin Shores, taking part in her first meet of the season, capped off the 50 butterfly with a second-place time of 34.08. That was quickly followed by a third-place finish by Emily Inman (2:57.56) in the 200 freestyle.
Six member of the Salem team took part in the 50 freestyle with Shores earning second-place in a time of 29.84. She was followed by Inman (37.06), who closed in fifth, as well as Amy Stutzer (6th; 38.05), Jaclyn Dennis (7th; 42.21), JaLisa Lumpkin (8th; 45.28) and Kellogg (9th; 48.67).
Kleven, in the sixth event of the day, came through with a decisive win over Kayleigh Hunt and Haley Zoltoski in the 100 individual medley by tapping the wall in 1:10.07.
The Spirits again had six competing in the 100 freestyle, where Shores posted the best time (1:13.30) and finish (fourth). She was followed in succession by Nelson (1:17.71), Wakefield (1:19.72), Stutzer (1:27.64), Lumpkin (1:50.71) and Kellogg (1:53.23).
Wakefield claimed her win in the 400 freestyle and Kleven followed with a first-place in the 100 breaststroke, with a personal-best time of 1:16.78.
The meet concluded with a first and second place finish by the Spirits in the 200 freestyle relay. The team of Kleven, Shores, Nelson and Stutzer, which posted a time of 2:09.38, edged out the Salem team of Wakefield, Dennis, Inman and Lumpkin, who touched the wall in 2:40.69.
The Spirits return to the Greensboro Aquatic Center on Friday, November 15, competing in a tri-meet that will also feature Guilford and Sweet Briar. For more information on Salem swimming check out www.salemspirits.com.
