FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 17, 2021) – Ashley Lawrence took over the crown of Northern Arizona's Pentathlon champion in her first take Friday afternoon. The freshman totaled 3,520 points overall, placing first in both the 100-meter butterfly (1:04.11) and the 100m freestyle (1:00.36).
The first-place finish for Lawrence marks the first time in four years a freshman has ended up the Pentathlon champion.
The Pentathlon, consisting of five events with four heats each, also included the 200m IM, the 100m breaststroke and the 100m backstroke. Following Lawrence in second place was Haley Mayhew with 3,320 points, Abigail Tashlein in third with 3,240 points, Jamie Dellwardt in fourth with 3,130 points and Jane Shroufe in fifth place with 3,050. Making their career debuts as Lumberjacks, Dellwardt and Shroufe joined Lawrence with top-five finishes as freshmen.
"We're recruiting some good kids every year and that helps. They come in off of a good summer and ready to try and prove themselves. It's great to see, we've been fortunate the last couple years in that respect," NAU head coach Andy Johns said.
Dellwardt made an impressive debut by taking first overall in the 200m IM with a final time of 2:26.60. Dellwardt went on to take another first-place finish in the 100m backstroke with a final time of 1:08.31. Dellwardt earned top-five finishes in four of the five events with her finishes in the 100m breaststroke and the 100m freestyle.
Transfer student Delaney Phillips also made her first appearance in the pool for the Lumberjacks, making it an impressive one as well with a first-place finish in the 100m breaststroke. Phillips finished with a time of 1:14.83.
"We're going to keep building, Blue and Gold is another opportunity to get race ready and it's fun, it's a little easier and the girls will get to swim their specialty events," Johns said. "That just keeps us getting ready for that first meet, as we get into a normal schedule."
Mayhew finished with a third place finish in the 200m IM with a time of 2:26.60, and a second place finish in the 100m breaststroke with a final time of 1:15.72. Tashlein had a third place finish in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:09.50.
The Lumberjacks will be back at the Aquatic and Tennis Complex on Oct. 1 for the Blue and Gold meet, before hosting Arizona Christian and Ottawa University for the first competitive meet of the season on Oct. 16.
Gallery: (9-17-2021) 26th Annual Pentathlon
