FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 22, 2023) – For the first time in three seasons, a non-freshman has emerged victorious in the NAU pentathlon. Sophomore Elsa Musselman recorded 4,120 points across five different events to take the 2023 NAU Swimming and Diving Pentathlon on Friday afternoon at Wall Aquatic Center.
After a fourth-place finish in the Pentathlon a season ago, Musselman finished in second place in four of the five events to boost up her total score, which is cumulative based on the times in each event.
The five events included the 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 100m freestyle and the 200m individual medley.
"There were great efforts and great attitudes from everybody," head coach Andy Johns said. "Those are the two things that they can control, and they did a great job in those areas. We are excited, our returners are swimming faster than they were last year and the year before. It was a great start to the year."
To open the festivities was the 200m individual medley, which senior Maddy Rey won with a time of 2:23.53. Following Musselman, in third place in the medley was junior Bena Koehn, finishing at 2:26.67.
Koehn saved her best swim for last, having the quickest time in the 100m freestyle, placing first in the freestyle for a second consecutive season.
Rey was in second place overall, just behind Musselman, earning 3,430 points. It is a three-place improvement for Rey, who was tied for fifth in the 2022 pentathlon. Koehn would take home a tie third place with 3,380 points.
The second event would see senior Caylah Jago break a pentathlon record in the 100m butterfly previously set by 2018 graduate Alina Staffeldt. Jago put forth a 1:03.07 in the event, .05 seconds quicker than Staffeldt's quickest pentathlon.
That would be one of two new pentathlon records set by the Lumberjacks on the afternoon. The other was from another senior, Sophie Velitchkov, in the 100m backstroke, setting the new record, previously 1:04.29 by Fi Connell, by more than a second with a time of 1:02.53.
Velitchkov was the other third-place finisher with 3,380 points when it was all set and done.
Freshman Trelise Dance was the lone freshman to take top prize in one of the events, scoring the best time in the 100m breaststroke with a 1:14.32 mark.
NAU will return to the pool in three weeks, hosting its annual blue vs. gold meet on Oct. 13. In addition, the blue vs. gold meet will feature swimmers from Arizona Christian University as well.
To stay up to date with NAU Swimming and Diving, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
