By Ron Smith
February 6, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In a tune-up event before heading to the Pacific Coast Swim Conference Championships later this week, #13 Westmont Women's Swimming participated in the UC Santa Barbara Invitational on Friday and Saturday. In the process, Warrior swimmers broke three school records and hit 10 new NAIA National Championship provisional qualification times.
 
Ella Chaisson swam a provisional qualification time of 2:22.86 in the 200 breaststroke and established a new school record. Her time was the seventh fastest time in the NAIA this season.
 
"Ella dropped 10 seconds from her season best," noted Westmont's head coach Jill Jones Lin. "Abby Rickard dropped six seconds from her season best in the same race and just missed the provisional cut."
 
In the 100 yard breaststroke, Chaisson broke another school record, finishing in 1:07.26. Rian Lewandowski posted a season best (1:09.94) in the event, meeting the provisional qualification time.
 
Bailey Lemmon set a school record in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 53.39, which is the 21st fastest time in the NAIA this year.
 
In the 5,000 yard freestyle, four Westmont athletes beat the NAIA provisional qualifying standard – Olivia Garrison (5:12.49), Emma Bustamante (5:16.23), Morgan Bienias (5:21.55) and McKenzie Rion (5:25.71). Garrison's time placed her 18th in the top-times in the NAIA this season.
 
"In the morning session, Morgan and Olivia did a great job swimming season best times in the 400 yard individual medley," noted Jones Lin. "Morgan is fighting to qualify for nationals in a very short window since she was abroad in the fall. She is going for it any chance she gets and she achieved the provisional cut for nationals!"
 
Chaisson dropped over four seconds from her best time this season in the 200 yard individual medley, touching the wall in a provisional qualifying time of 2:09.73. Her time ranks 16th fastest in the NAIA this year.
 
Lemmon posted a time of 24.53 in the 50 yard freestyle, more than half a second better than her previous season best time and meeting the provisional qualifying standard. She also recorded a season best time of 1:00.06 in the 100 yard backstroke to earn a provisional qualification.
 
"In the 200 yard freestyle, Emma Diehl had a season best time by over eight seconds to go a 2:00.09 which is the provisional cut," said Jones Lin. "Daisy Marquardt and McKenzie also dropped time to achieve the provisional standard. 
 
"Emma Diehl dropped two seconds from her season best time in the 100 freestyle to achieve the NAIA B cut, Daisy dropped a second to achieve provisional time, and Olivia Garrison, our distance swimmer, went a 55.2 to achieve the provisional cut as well.
 
"In the evening session, Morgan swam the 200 backstroke and was only four seconds off her lifetime best time. Her time of 2:11.72 was also a provisional cut. McKenzie and Rian swam season best times and both dropped two seconds.
 
"Our strongest Warrior, Emma Leathers, swam the 200 yard butterfly for the first time since she had shoulder surgery and did amazing. Emma was our Most Inspirational Award winner last year and she continues to inspire those who watch her swim. To willingly and joyfully swim such a daunting event after all she went through is a feat in itself.
 
"Overall, it was a really great meet for us. The low pressure environment allowed the team to practice swimming the races that they will swim at PCSC and prove to themselves that they are ready to swim fast at conference. I'm really grateful for the Gauchos for hosting us and giving us the opportunity."