Galyer and Alexander Finish 1-2 in 200 Back at Winter Nationals

COLUMBUS, Ohio. – Kentucky swimming and diving ended 2017 on a high note Saturday evening as sophomore Ali Galyer and senior Bridgette Alexander finished swept the top two spots in the 200-yard backstroke at the USA Swimming Winter National Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
 
Galyer touched the wall first with a time of 1:51.15, while Alexander followed close behind to finish second in 1:51.92. It was the second time in as many years that a Kentucky swimmer has won the event after Alexander was last year’s champion in Atlanta.
 
“It was great for us to finish the semester on a good note with another winter nationals win in the 200 back,” said head coach Lars Jorgensen. “And overall, today was a good day for us with Bailey finishing third in the 200 breast and Haley was fourth in the 200 fly. We’ve got a lot of work to do in the next five weeks still to determine our success, but it was a good meet.”
 
Freshman Bailey Bonnett capped off a phenomenal first semester for Kentucky with a third-place showing in the 200 breast. She came into the wall with a time of 2:08.39 after posting a school record time of 2:07.83 just two weeks ago at the Ohio State Invitational.
 
Junior Haley McInerny went 1:56.91 in the 200 butterfly finals to finish fourth overall in the event. The time was a season best, and was just off her lifetime best of 1:56.89, which she posted at last year’s Southeastern Conference Championships.
 
Kentucky will be back in action Jan. 5-6, when they return home for a two-day double-dual with Ohio State and Toledo.
 
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