SIOUX FALLS – Performing at a high level has been the identifying characteristic of the University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team in 2019-20. And, Head Coach Chris Hamstra's team continued with their success as the Sioux Falls Invite, hosted by Augustana at the Midco Aquatic Center, opened Friday. The Cougars had yet another memorable performance on day one. Day two of the Invite begins with prelims Friday morning.

On the opening day of the Invite, the Cougars broke three school records and had a number of NCAA cuts. Along the way, they outpointed two DI programs in University South Dakota and South Dakota State University in swimming points. USF ranks third overall in total points but when counting swimming events only USF leads with 396 points with USF at 382 and SDSU at 373.5. When including diving, SDSU has a 450.5 point total for first place with USF at 439 and the Cougars in third at 396. Augustana is fourth with 265 points while U-Mary has 202.5, Iowa Central CC at 52, College of St. Mary, 45; and Iowa Lakes CC at 16.

"I am really proud of this team," said Hamstra. "We are really competing at a high level and it is great to see us continue to perform at a high level," he said.

Two-time NSIC Athlete of the Week Ella Johnson, a sophomore from Southport, England, continued to turn out top times nationally. She won an individual event and was part of two winning relays. In the 100 fly, she registered an NCAA "B" cut with a school record mark of 54.29, which is also the top time in NCAA DII. She now has the top time in the 100 fly and the 200 fly (2:02). Also in the 100 fly, Childs was 5^th in 56.94 while Ursula Demarquet was 10^th in 58.49.

Johnson was part of the 200 medley relay which has an automatic NCAA cut by clocking a 1:43.02 in winning the event. On the relay with Johnson was Elizabeth Spaans, Chantal Kasch, and Jenna Krahn, who have qualified for DII nationals. USF was also fourth place in the relay with a team of Gigi Bario, Abigail Ford, Valerie Childs and Leah Eagleton, who clocked a 1:46.29.

Among the school records is the 800 free relay which won a title by clocking a 7:33.80. The team included Elizabeth Spaans, Leah Eagleton, Ella Johnson and Giulia Marcon. USF was also fifth in the event with a relay of Jenna Krahn, Valerie Childs, Evelyn VanDeMark and Abigail Ford in 7:47.69.

Like Johnson, Spaans was part of three wins. In addition to competing on the two relays, she won the 200 IM with an NCAA "B" cut of 2:04.92, which was also a school record. Spaans time ranks seventh in DII. In that race, Makenzie Kennedy was third in 2:07.40 and Kasch, seventh, 2:08.91.

Krahn was another with three wins as she had an NCAA B cut in finishing third in the 50 free at 23.33. Krahn's time ranks fourth in DII. USF had four B cuts in the race as Kyjana Webber was sixth in 23.59; Demarquet was eighth with an NCAA "B" cut of 23.67 and Eagleton had an NCAA "B" cut with a 23.65 clocking for 11^th place.

USF also had a strong effort in the 500 free as Giulia Marcon was second in an NCAA "B" cut of 4:59.24, which ranks sixth in DII. Nina Groene, who clocking a 5:05.06 in the finals but had a B cut of 5:01.41 in the prelims. She was eighth. VanDeMark also had an NCAA "B" cut with at 11^th place finish and a clocking of 5:03.77.