Women's S&D Set Relay Record in Opening Day of MAC Championships
February 26, 2025 | Women's Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO – The Ball State women's swimming and diving program opened the 2025 Mid-American Conference Championships with a program record in relay action at Buffalo's Alumni Arena Natatorium & Dorsi Raynolds Pool Wednesday evening.
It was the 200 medley relay team of Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Anna Keen and Payton Kelly that combined for a program-record time of 1:39.56 to place fourth overall.
The women's record time was a .13 improvement from the former record of 1:39.69, which Wright also was member of at the MAC Championships two years ago.
In the second and final event of opening day, Alexa Von Holtz was joined by the league championship-debuting trio of McKenna Potteiger, Ava Butterfield and Magdalena Lechowska in the 800 freestyle relay, finishing seventh and setting the 10th-fastest time in program history.
After the first day of action, the Cardinals are in fifth place with 54 points. Akron currently holds the lead with 74, followed by Ohio with 70.
Competition in the 2025 MAC Championships continues Thursday with three individual events, 1-meter diving, and the 200 freestyle relay. Prelims start at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
Ball State Results on Day 1 of the MAC Championships
200 Medley Relay | Program Record - 1:39.56 by Newkirk, Wright, Keen, Kelly in 2025
4th – Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Anna Keen, Payton Kelly – 1:39.56 – program record
800 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 7:22.09 by Payne, Ribeiro, Kelly, Stauffer in 2013
7th – Alexa Von Holtz, McKenna Potteiger, Ava Butterfield, Magdalena Lechowska – 7:28.47 – 10th in program history
It was the 200 medley relay team of Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Anna Keen and Payton Kelly that combined for a program-record time of 1:39.56 to place fourth overall.
The women's record time was a .13 improvement from the former record of 1:39.69, which Wright also was member of at the MAC Championships two years ago.
In the second and final event of opening day, Alexa Von Holtz was joined by the league championship-debuting trio of McKenna Potteiger, Ava Butterfield and Magdalena Lechowska in the 800 freestyle relay, finishing seventh and setting the 10th-fastest time in program history.
After the first day of action, the Cardinals are in fifth place with 54 points. Akron currently holds the lead with 74, followed by Ohio with 70.
Competition in the 2025 MAC Championships continues Thursday with three individual events, 1-meter diving, and the 200 freestyle relay. Prelims start at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
Ball State Results on Day 1 of the MAC Championships
200 Medley Relay | Program Record - 1:39.56 by Newkirk, Wright, Keen, Kelly in 2025
4th – Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Anna Keen, Payton Kelly – 1:39.56 – program record
800 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 7:22.09 by Payne, Ribeiro, Kelly, Stauffer in 2013
7th – Alexa Von Holtz, McKenna Potteiger, Ava Butterfield, Magdalena Lechowska – 7:28.47 – 10th in program history
Players Mentioned
Fly/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
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