Swimming Wins Home Opener Against Mansfield 113-87

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata women's swimming opened the 2012-13 season on a high note by defeated NCAA Division II Mansfield University 113-87 Friday night in Binder Natatorium.

Juniata (1-0) won eight of the 11 events, taking two of the top three spots in three.

Junior Hillary Palmer (Fayetteville, Ga.) and freshman Christine Whiteman (Delmont, Pa./Franklin Regional) each won two individual events in the meet.  Sophomore Reagyn Taylor (Huntingdon, Pa./Home School) earned first and second place finishes of her own.

Whiteman was the first individual winner of the new season finishing the 800m freestyle 6.01 seconds ahead of the other swimmers with a time of 10:35.21 in her first collegiate race.  She also won the 400m freestyle in 4:59.71.

Palmer, the lone upperclassman on the squad, won the 200m IM by over nine seconds with a time of 2:37.16.   She then finished the 100m backstroke in 1:11.78, a clean 8.31 seconds ahead of Taylor, who edged out Mansfield for second.  Taylor took the last individual race of the night, winning the 100m breaststroke in 1:21.19.

Juniata won both relay events, finishing the 200m medley in 2:12.03 and the 200 meter freestyle medley in 1:57.48.

The Eagles hit the road for the first time tomorrow, Oct. 20, as they face Marywood University in their first Landmark Conference meet of the year.  Meet time is set for 1 p.m.

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