FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Sept. 27, 2024) - The Northern Arizona women's swimming and diving team opened the 2024 season with their annual pentathlon today. The day consisted of five events, all with four heats within each event. Each swimmer is awarded points based on their times in each event and the winner of the pentathlon is crowned after determining who has the highest cumulative total.
"There were some great results. I am really proud of Gracie for being the overall winner, but also Kaci and Bena showing some versatility there to finish in the top three," head coach Andy Johns said. "With Trelise setting a pentathlon record in the breast stroke, I think that's a sign of some really good things to come and not just from her, but a lot of people stepped up. It is already a great start to the season."
Gracie Munk won the overall event, accumulating a score of 3,840. This is the second time Munk has won the pentathlon, with the first being her freshman year in 2022 where she scored 3,610 points.
The first event began with the 200m SC IM in which Munk would record a time of 2:24.00. Behind her was Cydnie Perkins with a 2:26.53.
Next was the 100 SC Meter Butterfly. Munk would also finish top of the scoreboard with a time of 1:04.33. Kaci Kelaher came in second with a 1:05.28.
Event three would consist of the 100 SC Meter Backstroke. It would be the third event Munk dominated with a leading time of 1:04.17. Meropi Eggink would come in second with a 1:07.56 time.'
The fourth event was topped by Trelise Dance, with a 1:12.28 time in the 100 SC Meter Breaststroke. Dance would set a new pentathlon record time with this race. Perkins would place second in this event also, with a time of 1:13.19.Â
The final event of the pentathlon was a 100 SC Meter Freestyle. Bena Koehn was the fastest swimmer for this event with a time of 58.95. Closely behind her was Kaci Kalaher with a time of 59.82.
With the times and scores calculated, Munk would finish in first place with 3,840, 230 points higher than her winning score in 2022. Second overall was earned by Kelaher with 3700 points and Koehn would place third with 3530.
"The positivity on the pool deck really allowed me to get back mentally to where I was two years ago," said Munk. "I was really focused on having fun and being present."Â
The Pentathlon is a yearly meet for Northern Arizona that plays a big role in preparing the team for the upcoming season. It is an opportunity for the coaches and swimmers to evaluate where they are overall, allowing time for adjustments and improvements before seeing competition in season.
​​"We have a lot of work ahead of us in the next two weeks from now with the blue and gold event and the meet with Arizona State, Arizona and Grand Canyon," coach Johns said. "It is going to be a big challenge for early October but we are really excited and really proud of them all."
The Lumberjacks will compete with each other in the annual Blue vs Gold event on Oct. 11. Their first official meet of the season will be in Tempe, Ariz with the Sun Devils on Oct. 12 at 12 p.m. Mountain Standard time.
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