After 12 events, the Big Red women sit in fifth place with 962.5 points at the 2014 Miami University Invitational in Oxford, Ohio. The host Redhawks continue to lead the seven-team field with 1,682 points. Emory sits second with 1,011 points, seven points ahead of Cincinnati. Toledo is fourth with 972 points followed by Denison, Wright State (528.5) and Urbana (117).
Senior Molly Willingham paced DU with four NCAA 'B' cuts on Friday. Individually, Willingham posted provisional qualifying times in both the 200 free and 100 backstroke events. The senior finished sixth in the 200 free with a time of 1:51.73, while sophomore Campbell Costley finished right behind her with a 'B' cut time of 1:51.87. Willingham also placed fourth in the A-Final of the 100 back (55.84). Junior Ashley Yearwood's 'B' cut in the event came in the preliminaries where she finished the event in 57.06.
The Big Red women had a strong showing in the two relay events, picking up three NCAA provisional qualifying times. Willingham, Marissa Bednarek, Yearwood and Carolyn Kane finished fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:43.66). DU also had both 800 freestyle relay teams register 'B' cut performances. The foursome of Taylor Johns, Costley, Michelle Howell and Willingham took fourth with a time of 7:30.85, while the grouping of Alex Elizeus, Kate Wright, Elizabeth Flaherty and Kane placed eighth (7:34.24).
Denison's strongest showing came in the 400 IM where they posted four 'B' cut times. Howell led the way with a third-place showing (4:24.30). The senior's fastest time in the event came via her second-place finish in the prelims at 4:23.84. Johns won the B-Final in 4:27.09, while first-years Leigh Hartog (4:28.04) and Halli Garza (4:30.04) finished 14th and 21st, respectively.
Kane finished second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.29. Howell placed third in the B-Final and 12th overall after touching the wall in 57.03, while Krysta Garbarino's time of 57.06 landed her in 14th place. All three times were 'B' cut performances. In the 100 breaststroke, Bednarek placed fifth after clocking in at 1:04.46. Freshman Ellen Higdon also had a 'B' cut after shaving over one second off her preliminary time. Higdon placed 14th overall with a time of 1:05.43.
On the 3-meter board, DU sophomore Sarah Lopez finished seventh with a score of 196.95. Sophomore Katherine Hennigan also scored for Denison after totaling 149.25 points in the prelims.
The Big Red totaled 16 provisional qualifying performances on Friday. They have not posted 28 through 12 events.
Denison wrap up the 2014 Miami Invitational on Saturday. Preliminaries will begin at 10 a.m. followed by championship finals at 6 p.m. Saturday's events include the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 400 free relay and the 1-meter dive.
