Elise Mason now sits one step away from history as the Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team had a strong third day at the 2025 G-MAC/MEC Championships on Friday in Canton, Ohio.
Mason broke her own school record in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:01.10 to edge Findlay's Sophie Busby by a tenth of a second and claim her second championship of the meet and her fourth-straight championship in the event. Mason earlier won a fourth-straight title in the 1,000 freestyle and can complete a trifecta of four-peats on Saturday with a victory in the 1,650 freestyle as well.
Hillsdale put up a strong showing in the 500 freestyle in general, with three of the top five finishers. Sophomore
Isabel Ondracek took fourth for Hillsdale in 5:07.70, and
Alyson Early placed fifth in 5:08.22.
Along with Mason's title, the Chargers also earned three runner-up finishes on the day. Senior
Joanna Burnham swam a new personal best in the 100 breaststroke to take second in 1:04.70, just ahead of teammate
Lauren Kamp in fourth in 1:06.49. Senior
Megan Clifford also took runner-up in the 200 butterfly in a strong time of 2:03.17, one of three Chargers in the top six in that event as freshman
Kathryn Vieceli took fifth in 2:12.78 and
Inez McNichols placed sixth in 2:13.78.
Freshman
Ella Malone also took 10th in the 100 backstroke for the Chargers in 58.78, and McNichols placed 13th in the same event in 1:00.24.
Hillsdale capped the night with a runner-up performance in the 800 freestyle relay in 7:32.96, as both of the top two finishers broke the previous meet record. Freshmen
Ella Schafer and
Matilyn Wilhelmsen teamed with Early and Clifford to earn runner-up honors.
The Chargers have solidified their grasp on second place in the team standings entering the final day with 1,045.5, and look to be on track for a seventh-straight top-two finish at the G-MAC/MEC Championships. The meet will conclude on Saturday with finals in the 1,650 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay.
Photo Courtesy of Malone Athletics
