ALBION, Mich. – Anna Hargrove started the run up to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships by setting the Albion College pool record in the 200-yard freestyle in her final home meet last Friday, and that was enough for her to be named the league’s Athlete of the Week in women’s swimming & diving.
The senior from Milan, Mich., achieved a time of 1:55.10 as the Britons completed the dual meet portion of the season with a 119-60 victory over Olivet College. Her performance individually and with fellow seniors Lauren Pawelec, Haley DeFeyter and Claire Wittkowski in the 200 freestyle relay (Hargrove anchored the relay with a 24.33 split as Albion set a time of 1:44.98), bodes well for the league meet which begins Feb. 17.
“We raced Anna in a time trial this equivalent weekend last year, and she was right at the pool record, but it doesn’t count in practice,” Albion Head Coach Jake Taber said. “It was nice to see her get that in an official meet setting.
“Anna is a senior and we’ve had a good track record with getting her to peak when it matters most,” Taber added. “I think that’s a swim she will build on. She should go into the MIAA Championships with a ton of confidence.”
Parker Belmore started the run up to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships by setting his lifetime best performance in the 200-yard freestyle, and that propelled him to be named the league’s Athlete of the Week in men’s swimming & diving.
The Albion College sophomore from Livonia, Mich., who prepped at Stevenson High School, achieved a time of 1:43.94 as the Britons completed the dual meet portion of the season with a 100-53 victory over Olivet College.
Belmore also set a backstroke split of 53.01 in leading off the 400 medley relay that finished first in 3:41.61. Hunter Jackman, Lucas Harder and Nick Deppner followed Belmore on the relay.
The MIAA Championships run Feb. 17-20 in Grand Rapids.
“Parker missed some time with a shoulder injury so we had not seen him race, there was no measure,” Albion Head Coach Jake Taber said. “He was efficient, he looked fantastic and he showed more speed that we thought he would have right now.
“We are still trying to figure out our relays for the MIAA Championships, and Parker put himself in good position for the 800 free relay,” Taber added.