CARLISLE, Pa. -- Kutztown University women's swimming got a fifth-place finish from graduate student Gracie McKee (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) in the 100-yard butterfly and remained 10th in the team standings following Thursday's events at the 2024 PSAC Championships.

McKee threw down the top time of 56.76 in morning preliminary heats after coming into the meet seeded second in the event.

The Gilbertsville, Pa., native's sixth career PSAC medal was within reach but just wasn't in the cards. Halfway through Thursday night's A Final, McKee was right there with a 26.07 50-yard split that had her in the top three. At the close, the top five finishers were separated by six-tenths of a second with McKee bringing home fifth in 56.89.

Kutztown was represented in one other final Thursday evening as Annamarie Rodier (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) qualified for the C Final in the 200 freestyle. Rodier was 21st in prelims with a 1:56.97 and took 23rd in the finals with a 1:57.63

The Golden Bears' 400 medley relay team of McKee, Tatum Rothermel (Halifax, Pa./Halifax), Ana Soto (Hamburg, N.J./Vernon Township) and Rodier recorded the ninth-fastest time in school history with a 4:02.15 to place 10th in the event. KU was ninth in the 200 free relay with Soto, Frannie Pease-Wingenter (Goodyear, Ariz./Millennium), Trinity Miller (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) and Birta Smaradottir (Mosfellsbær, Iceland/Commercial College of Iceland) in 1:39.68.

Kutztown has compiled 177 points through two days of competition and will look to make a move during Friday's events. The Golden Bears are just 3.5 points back of East Stroudsburg for ninth and 12 behind Edinboro for eighth. California (Pa.) is two points off KU's pace in 11th.

Events taking place Friday include the 500 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 fly and the 200 medley relay. Prelims are set for 10 a.m., with finals starting at 6 p.m.
 

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2024 PSAC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Feb. 15, 2024 | Keystone Aquatic Center | Carlisle, Pa.
 
KUTZTOWN THURSDAY RESULTS
All distances in yards
 
THURSDAY, FEB. 15
Prelims – 10 a.m.
 
100 Butterfly (48 entries)
1. Gracie McKee (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown), 56.76, A Final Qualifier
40. Ana Soto (Hamburg, N.J./Vernon Township), 1:02.58
47. Jade Ware (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area), 1:05.01
 
400 Individual Medley (33 entries)
None
 
200 Freestyle (56 entries)
21. Annamarie Rodier (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape), 1:56.97, C Final Qualifier
45. Birta Smaradottir (Mosfellsbær, Iceland/Commercial College of Iceland), 2:01.42
55. Trinity Miller (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant), 2:06.01
 
Finals – 6 p.m.
 
200 Freestyle Relay (12 teams)
9. Kutztown 'A' (Ana Soto, Frannie Pease-Wingenter, Trinity Miller, Birta Smaradottir), 1:39.68, 40 pts.
 
100 Butterfly A Final (8 entries | 1st-8th)
5. Gracie McKee (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown), 56.89, 25 pts.
 
400 Individual Medley
None
 
200 Freestyle C Final (8 entries | 17th-24th)
23. Annamarie Rodier (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape), 1:57.63, 2 pts.
 
400 Medley Relay (12 teams)
10. Kutztown 'A' (Gracie McKee, Tatum Rothermel, Ana Soto, Annamarie Rodier), 4:02.15, 34 pts., 9th all-time at KU