OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- Sophomore
Christine Tixier earned All-American honors with a third-place finish in the 200 IM and five Biola school records fell in the first day of competition at the 2013 NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships at the Oklahoma City Community College on Thursday.
Tixier opened her second trip to the NAIAs with a third-place finish in the 200 individual medley, earning All-America honors with a 2:06.36, just one second behind the winner.
Tixier also was part of Biola's 200 medley relay team which finished fifth overall with a school-record time of 1:47.58. Sarah Shepard, Megan Nerud, Tixier and Angela Kirschner combined to beat the old record by nearly two seconds.
Tixier closed out the day with Monica Hurt, Victoria Andreas and Angela Kirschner finished fifth in the 800 freestyle relay with a time of 7:54.69.
The men shattered four records in just the first day with Eric Sirjord and Chris Stutzman each taking part in two of the records.
Brandon Hughes, Austin Sarna, Sirjord and Stutzman opened the day with an eighth-place finish in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:35.03, beating the existing record of 1:35.94.
The quartet ended the day strong as well, winning the consolation heat in the 800 free relay with a time of 7:00.30.
Sirjord also swam well in the 500 freestyle and cruised to a 4:36.62 to beat the school record by three seconds and take fourth in the event, missing third by one-half second.
Stutzman flew to a 20.69 in the finals of the 50 free, taking home sixth place overall.
Freshman Brandon Hughes broke Head Coach Eddie Shepard's record in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:55.59 in the prelims. He then finished 15th in the finals.
Other top 10 finishes came from Megan Nerud in the 200 IM (11th - 2:11.88) and Angela Kirschner (50 free - 25:16).
"We had an amazing start to the meet," said Shepard. "It was really exciting for everyone on the team to see so many fast swims. I think that it gives us a huge confidence boost as we go into the next two days. I think that we are stronger in our events the next two days so I really look forward to our success continuing. We have put in so much hard work this year and it is always great to see it finally pay off. "
Friday features the 100 of each stroke and the 400 individual medley along with the 200 free and 400 medley relays.
