First-year Sara Daher contributed to six team records, four top-three finishes, three NCAA B-cut times, and a pool record as women’s swimming and diving earned a program-best fourth-place finish at the NESCAC Championships to gain Bobcat of the Week accolades for the week of Feb. 10-16.
On Friday, the Marblehead, Mass., native set a Samuelson-Muir Pool record in the 200-yard individual medley with an NCAA B-cut time of 2:03.71 in the prelims, setting a program record. She came in second in the final with a 2:05.22. Daher also helped the Bobcats finish fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a team-record time of 1:36.43, swimming with seniors Gabrielle Sergi and Emilie Geissinger as well as sophomore Caroline Depew.
The next day, the Marblehead High School graduate came in second place in the 400 IM on the strength of an NCAA B-cut and team record time of 4:24.59. She also aided Bates in finishing second in the 800-yard freestyle relay as the team swam a 7:34.62 – another NCAA B-cut and team record time. First-year Julia Smachlo, Depew, and sophomore Lindsey Prelgovisk swam the first three legs in order.
On the final day of the championships, Daher helped the Bobcats establish a program record with a 3:30.15 in the 400 free relay, finishing third in the event. Sergi, Prelgovisk, and Depew competed alongside Daher. The rookie also broke the team record in the 200 back with a fourth-place time of 2:03.32.
Daher will compete at the NCAA Championships from March 19-22 in Indianapolis. She is currently ranked third in Division III in the 200 IM and fourth in the 400 IM.