Jorgenson, Hall Highlight Strong Opener for Huskers

Lincoln - All-American Gena Jorgenson won three event titles while senior Maia Hall added a pair of individual victories in the breaststroke events to lead the Nebraska swimming and diving team in its regular-season opening double-dual with No. 24 Minnesota and South Dakota on Friday at the Devaney Natatorium.

Jorgenson, a junior from Aberdeen, S.D., powered her way to wins in both the 500 (4:45.33) and 1,000-yard (10:02.71) freestyles while adding another victory in the 200 backstroke (2:01.53) to help the Big Red cruise to a 226-74 win over South Dakota. The Huskers came up short in a 196-104 loss to the No. 24 Golden Gophers to split the double-dual.

Hall put up an impressive day of her own, sharing the 100-yard breaststroke title with senior teammate JoJo Randby (Omaha, Neb.) in identical times of 1:03.43. Hall, a senior from Whitby, England swept the breaststroke titles with a win in the 200 (2:17.43), while Randby added a fourth-place finish in the event. Hall added to her strong all-around performance on the day with a third-place showing in the 200 IM.

Marissa Laurin contributed several impressive efforts in her Husker debut. The freshman from Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada, notched runner-up finishes in the 200 back (2:02.47) and 200 IM (2:06.79) while adding a fourth-place finish in the 100 back. She also swam a leg of Nebraska's third-place 200 medley relay. 

Newcomer Maisie Gilford also contributed in her Husker debut with a pair of third-place finishes in the 50 (23.51) and 100 (51.53) freestyles, while anchoring the 200 medley relay.

Nebraska's 400 relay team of Beatrix Tanko, Gilford, Giulia Marchi and Jorgenson added a second-place finish to help the Huskers in the pool.  

The Husker divers also got the season off to a solid start with sophomore Antonina Harned taking second and meeting the NCAA qualifying standard in the three-meter dive with a 305.60. Junior Kelsey Clairmont added a fifth-place finish in the event with a 272.15.

Abby Baxter added an NCAA standard of 285.25 to finish fourth on the one-meter board, while Clairmont added a qualifying score of her own with a 270.70.

The Huskers will travel to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes in a dual on Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.  

Nebraska 226, South Dakota 74
No. 24 Minnesota 196, Nebraska 104
No. 24 Minnesota 251, South Dakota 49
Friday, Oct. 4, 2024
Lincoln, Neb. (Bob Devaney Natatorium)

Nebraska Champions
1,000 Freestyle – Gena Jorgenson – 10:02.71
200 Backstroke – Gena Jorgenson – 2:01.53
500 Freestyle – Gena Jorgenson – 4:54.33
100 Breast – JoJo Randby – 1:03.43
100 Breast – Maia Hall – 1:03.43
200 Breast - Maia Hall - 2:17.43