Freshman Madi Lydig (Spokane, Wash.) continued her spectacular initial collegiate season Wednesday, setting the school record in the 1000 freestyle at the 2015 USA Swimming/Speedo Champion Series Sectional Meet, hosted by the Bellevue Club Swim Team at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Lydig finished ninth in the event with a time of 10:21.61, a quarter of a second quicker than the previous record set by Bethany Gehrke (Lynnwood, Wash.) just two weeks ago at the Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships. Lydig improved upon her season-best time by almost 15 full seconds.
Lydig is entered to compete in the 200 backstroke Thursday, an event in which she already holds the school record, and in the 100 backstroke Saturday, where she currently has the seventh-fastest time in program history. Teammate Stephanie Bayless (Spokane, Wash.) is also entered in the sectional meet in the 100 freestyle on Thursday and the 50 freestyle on Sunday.
Lydig and Bayless are two of 18 swimmers from the current Seattle University women’s swim team eligible to return next year. The Redhawks are coming off their best performance at the WAC Swimming and Diving Championships, compiling 270.5 points over the four-day meet.