Fairfield swim team competes in Burlington

BURLINGTON ? The Fairfield swim team had another successful outing Saturday at Burlington?s Grayhound Invitational, despite what the team standings would indicate.

Though the Trojans finished last in the 12-team field with 75 points, every Trojan swimmer who competed in Burlington improved on their season times, and freshman diver Katherine Mueller placed third in the 1-meter dive with a score of 301.95.

?It is encouraging to see the progress this team is making,? said Fairfield swim team coach Lisa Greenig. ?We had girls improve anywhere from two seconds to 10 seconds under their previous scores. Coach [Hannah] Weiland and I couldn?t be more proud of the girls at this moment.?

Mueller, who also placed in the 1-meter dive at the Bobcat Invitational in Muscatine, got the Trojans started on a high note from the diving board. Saturday, the freshman narrowly missed second place, which went to Iowa City West?s Alex Aaberg (304.60).

Additionally, Fairfield junior Baylee Bowman broke the 6-minute mark in the 500-freestyle for the first time in 2012 with an 11th-place time of 5:58. Bowman also finished eighth in the 200-individual medley (2:30.45), and she combined with Dorian Larson, Hanna Kerr and Allison Angstead for an eighth-place finish in the 400-freestyle (4:37.76).

Larson also completed the 50-freestyle in 30.25 ticks, and Kerr was 19th in the 100-backstroke with a time of 1:19.96.

Pleasant Valley won the Grayhound Invitational (459) and Iowa City West finished runner-up (425).

Seniors Jaci Bell and Paige Palmer as well as junior Jade Greiner were unavailable for Saturday?s contest. All three will be back in the lineup for the Trojans? first home meet of the season, scheduled at 5 p.m. today vs. Tipton.