AUSTIN, Texas – Another day, another top five all-time performance by a Northern Arizona swimmer. On the third day of the Texas Invitational, freshman Niamh McDonagh moved into fifth in program history in the 400 individual medley, while recording the Lumberjacks' best finish of the meet thus far in 19th overall.
 
McDonagh's morning swim was impressive enough as her preliminary time of 4:25.79 was not only good to qualify for the 'C' final, but it was more than two seconds faster than her previous season-best. McDonagh then went even lower in the finals, cutting a full four seconds off her morning time to slide into fifth in program history at 4:21.14.
 
"The 400 IM was our strongest event today and it was good to Niamh put up a time tonight," said head coach Andy Johns. "It's a sign of what we expect out of her through the rest of the season. Kimmy (Richter) had a big improvement in the 200 freestyle from her 500 yesterday, and really we had solid 200s."
 
McDonagh was not the only Lumberjack to swim in the 400 IM 'C' final as junior Sarah Takach finished 22nd overall with a finals time of 4:24.37. The Lumberjack pair was the first two swimmers to swim in the third-fastest heat of their respective individual event this week.
 
Senior Alina Staffeldt swam in the 'D' final in the 100 butterfly and placed 32nd. Her best time of the day came during the prelims, where she posted a time of 55.38.
 
In the 200 freestyle, senior Kimmy Richter, redshirt junior Monique King and freshman Sam Milewski all recorded season-best times, but were unable to qualify for an evening swim. Richter led the NAU trio with a time of 1:50.76, while King recorded a time of 1:51.54 and Milewski at 1:52.16.
 
Takach (1:05.41) and McDonagh (1:07.25) also both swam the 100 breaststroke. In between the two of them was senior Roni Houck, who turned in a lifetime-best 100 breast time of 1:05.45. Freshman Sarah O'Connor rounded out NAU's individual results with a time of 57.00 in the 100 backstroke.
 
O'Connor, Houck, Staffeldt and freshman Elisa Rodriguez finished Friday's day three action with a time of 1:46.87  in the 200 medley relay.
 
"We're looking forward to tomorrow," Johns said. "The 200s and the mile could be our best day as it usually is in meets like this. We're going to continue to battle."
 
The Texas Invitational wraps up with the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, mile freestyle and 400 freestyle relay on Saturday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Preliminary rounds for the individual events will begin at 9 a.m. MST with the finals to follow at 5 p.m. MST.