Air Force claims victory at Liberty Invite

LYNCHBURG- Air Force propelled to a three-day win at the TYR '85 Liberty Invitational on Sunday, wrapping up the meet with 2540.00 team points. In need of a push on the final day, the Falcons met the challenge with numerous record swims.

"The team gained momentum throughout the entire meet and finished with an amazing final day," said head swimming coach Colleen Murphy. "Our depth was evident throughout the meet with lots of finals appearances, including five women in the 200 Fly final. We had over 50 lifetime best swims, 8 new top ten times and a new school record."

The grandest of swims came from Naomi Furman, as the freshman not only finished victorious in the 200 Breaststroke, but her 2:13.31 now stands as the program record in the event. Kim Davis had held the school record since 2014 with a time of 2:14.52.

As well, Furman's record-breaking swim qualifies her for a NCAA "B" cut position.

The final race also saw Mandy Fleetwood earn a spot in the Air Force record book, as her 2:17.57 stands as the eight-best swim in the 200 Breaststroke in program lore.

In the 200 Butterfly, Abigail Hardy, Alex Clark, Ryan Mills, Lauren Arnold, and Shayla Markle each qualified for the "A" final. Clark was the top finisher in third, touching out at 2:02.14. Hardy (2:02.38) placed fourth while also establishing the program's ninth-best time in the event.

Katelyn Andrist's 16:52.72 in the 1650 Freestyle awarded the sophomore a second-place finish in the distant swim.

Abby Turner and Kirsten Lee were the only Falcons to earn an "A" finals slot in the 100 Freestyle. Turner (50.91) was seventh, while Lee (51.67) was ninth. Mills managed the quickest swim in the "B" finals, as her time of 50.61 becomes the sixth-best time in the event in program history.

Kinzie Etzelmiller wowed in the platform dive, garnering the top score in the event with 228.53 points. Jaymie Yow (174.30) and Kayden Macpherson (151.20) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Closing the Sunday results, Kai-Min Tsuei swam to a fourth-place finish in the 200 Backstroke (2:02.13).

"This team is having a lot of fun and swimming fast," said Murphy. "We are so proud of them."

Next, the Falcons will have to wait until December 19 for their next meet, as Air Force travels to San Diego State to battle the Aztecs in a Mountain West dual.

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Players Mentioned

Katie Andrist

Lauren Arnold

Alex Clark

Kinzie Etzelmiller

Mandy Fleetwood

Naomi Furman

Abigail Hardy

Kirsten Lee

Shayla Markle

Ryan Mills

Kai-Min Tsuei

Abby Turner

Jaymie Yow

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