Women's swimming and diving seniors finish careers strong

In its last dual meet of the season, the women’s swimming and diving team triumphed over Dartmouth this past Saturday, beating the Big Green 176-119. With the win, the Lions finish up their season with a 6-3 overall record (4-3 Ivy).

At the meet, seniors Caitlin Bertelsen, Allison Hobbs, Christina Hughes, Katie Omstead, and Delghi Urubshurow were recognized for their four years of dedication to the team with posters decorated with their names, and speeches given in their honor by their teammates.

“To be honest it hasn’t completely hit me yet because in the past there had always been a ‘next year’ said senior Delghi Urubshurow. “It’s also kind of bittersweet because swimming has been such a big part of my life, but I’m looking forward to having more free time. I am definitely going to miss swimming at Columbia, mostly, I will miss my teammates who have helped make these past four years a great experience.”

There was no better way to celebrate the seniors’ last competition at Uris pool than by dominating Dartmouth, and they did so from the very beginning of the meet.

In the first event of competition, the senior­—powered team of Urubshurow, Hobbs, junior Mariele Dunn, and freshman Katie Meili swam a time of 1:47.29, finishing first. In the 500 free, the Light Blue claimed a 1-2-3 sweep, with Paige Endsley taking first, Isabelle Vandenbroucke second, and Nicole Marsh, third. Meili cruised past the competition in the 200 IM, finishing almost six seconds ahead of any opponent, and in the 100 backstroke the Lions swept the Big Green again, with Urubshurow, Lacey Harris-Coble, and Caroline Lukins claiming first, second, and third, respectively. The 50 free ended in a tie for first, as the two Columbia swimmers Ashley MacLean and Bunge Okeyo claimed the top spot simultaneously with a time of 24.87.

Continuing to deny Dartmouth significant points, Light Blue swimmers took first place in the 200 breast by Meili, the 200 free by Urubshurow, and the 100 fly by Hobbs. Meili also finished first in the 100 IM, with a time of 59.12.

Now that the dual—meet season is over, the Lions will continue to train to compete in the Ivy League Championships, which will begin in less than two weeks. Looking forward to the championship, Urubshurow said, “The preparation is not only physical but mental too. I need to continue training hard for the next week, and then my coach will start to rest me so my body is ready to race. Mentally, I am just trying to stay very positive and get excited to have a great meet.”

The championships will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts from Thursday, Feb. 25 to Saturday, Feb. 27.