ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – In a spectacular show of skill and determination, Kelsie Miller, a first-year student from Potomac, Maryland, secured both the Atlantic East Conference Women's Swimmer and Women's Rookie of the Year awards, marking an extraordinary beginning to her collegiate swimming career. The 2024 Atlantic East Women's Swimming Championships, which concluded on Sunday, February 18, saw Miller's outstanding performance lead her team to a second-place finish with 701 points, as the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's swim team wrapped up the event as the Atlantic East Runners-Up for the second consecutive year.
Miller's debut at the conference championship meet was nothing short of historic. She clinched gold medals in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, showcasing her versatility and strength in the pool. Additionally, Miller played a crucial role in the winning 800 freestyle relay and the 200-freestyle relay teams, further cementing her status as a standout athlete. Her achievements did not stop there; Miller also secured a silver medal as part of the 200 medley relay team. Throughout the meet, she set six championship records, six conference marks, and one school record, alongside achieving an NCAA B cut in the 100 butterfly, an impressive feat for any swimmer, let alone a first-year.
The championship also highlighted the performances of senior captain Anna Kidd from Arbutus, Maryland, who concluded her Seahawk career by defending her title as the 100 freestyle champion for the fourth consecutive year, clocking in at 53.67 seconds. The team's success was further bolstered by the efforts of Marissa Fields, Lilianna Bowman, and the rest of the Seahawk swimmers, who together, broke records and showcased the depth of talent within the team.
The coaching staff, led by eighth-year Head Coach Casey Brandt, was recognized as the Atlantic East Women's Coaching Staff of the Year, a testament to their dedication and the strong performance of the team under their guidance.
Miller's individual achievements were particularly noteworthy. She broke the conference and championship meet record in the 200 butterfly, setting a new standard with a time of 2:07.98, after surpassing her own previous conference mark during the preliminaries. Her performance in the 400-freestyle relay, alongside teammates Kidd, Fields, and Bowman, resulted in a new conference and championship meet record of 3:39.45, breaking the previous mark set by St. Mary's College in 2022.
Other notable performances came from Bowman, who finished fourth in the 200 backstroke, and Kaitlyn Soldon, a first-year, who also made her mark by finishing sixth in the same event. The team showed strength across various events, with members securing top finishes in the 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, and the 1650 freestyle, demonstrating the depth and talent within the Seahawk ranks.
The 2024 Atlantic East Women's Swimming Championships will be remembered for the emergence of Kelsie Miller as a formidable force in collegiate swimming and the cohesive performance of the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's swim team. As the team looks ahead, the foundation set by this year's achievements promises an exciting future for the Seahawks in the world of collegiate swimming.
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