ROCHESTER, Minn. – In their first open meet of the season, University of Sioux Falls Swimming posted a pair of top-five relay finishes and advanced three to the finals of the 500 freestyle on the first of three days at the Rochester Invitational.
 
The Cougar quartet of Jenna Krahn, Evenlyn VanDeMark, Nina Groene, and Miake Doerr combined for a 7:42.60 in the 800-yard relay to take fourth. USF's top 4x200 relay was less than four seconds off the provisional qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships. Alex Sanchez Clark, Sydnie Saddoris, Maddie Donohue, and Tori Bailey posted an 8:03.10 to take 10th and score for the Cougars.
 
USF's 400 medley relay squad of Gigi Bario, Chantal Kasch, Doerr and Ingelin Lima posted the second top-five finish for the Cougars. With Bario in the backstroke, Kasch in breaststroke, Doerr in the butterfly and Lima swimming the anchor freestyle leg, USF's top relay team was fifth at 3:52.90. USF's second relay squad was disqualified in the event.
 
VanDeMark and Groene both advanced to the 'A' final of the 500-yard freestyle – they recorded the two fastest times for Division II swimmers – and Sanchez Clark earned a spot in the 'C' final. Van De Mark cut more than 15 seconds off her seed time with a 5:06.01 in the heats for the fourth-fastest qualifying time. Groene was right behind her teammate at 5:07.76, advancing to the top final. Sanchez Clark finished in 5:22.05, 19th in the heats to earn a spot in the 'C' final.
 
Sioux Falls returns to competition on Saturday in Rochester, Minn.