Big efforts by McKim, Blum pace Simpson at Grinnell

GRINNELL, Iowa – Kyle McKim turned in a pair of top-10 efforts, Haley Blum had the top performance on the women's side as the Simpson swimming and diving teams completed the Grinnell Pioneer Classic Invitational over the weekend.

The men's team finished ninth of 13 teams and the women took 10th of 13 at their biggest meet of the season thus far.

Men's Recap

McKim placed eighth in the 200 breaststroke and ninth in the 100 breaststroke to pace the Storm. He touched the wall in 2:21.30 in the 200 and 1:03.36 in the 100.

Dylan Gray didn't finish far behind McKim in the breaststrokes, taking 12th in the 100 (1:04.62) and 10th in the 200 (2:26.86). He also took 16th in the 50 freestyle (23.05).

Diver JJ Hansen had the other top-10 performance, taking eighth in the 100-meter diving competition with 222.20 points.

The top relay for the Storm was the 200 freestyle relay of Gray, Nathan Schneider, Scott Wailes and Cody Carlson. The group placed 10th, finishing in 1:33.70.

Notable Performances

400 freestyle relay of Schneider, Wailes, Gray and Carlson placed 11th (3:30.78)

800 freestyle relay of Schneider, James Tillison, Michael Reuter and Carlson placed 13th (8:12.20)

Women's Recap

Blum had the best individual finish of the weekend, taking 14th in the 200 breaststroke (2:42.38). She also took 18th in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.53).

Megan Buitendorp was the Storm's top performer in the backstrokes, placing 16th in the 200 (2:28.60) and 18th in the 100 (1:08.26).

Alex Vander Veen added a 16th-place effort in the 200 butterfly (2:39.84) and Erica Carlson took 17th in the 200 backstroke (2:29.73).

The top relay of the weekend was the team of Buitendorp, Blum, Haag and Christina Amburgy in the 200 medley relay. The quartet took 12th (2:01.84).

Notable Performances

Katie Rubins placed 18th in the 1650 freestyle (21:35.57)

Tori Haag placed 24th in the 100 freestyle (58.57) and 25th in the 200 free (2:11.65)