Record-Breaking Performance: Nuckolls Shatters School Record at Phoenix Fall Classic in Chicago – Women’s Swimming & Diving Highlights

The Macalester College women’s swimming and diving team participated in the Phoenix Fall Classic at the University of Chicago from November 22 to 24. A group of swimmers achieved their season bests, highlighted by first-year swimmer Molly Nuckolls, who set a new school record.

Nuckolls swam the 200-yard butterfly in 2:09.33, breaking the previous record of 2:10.97 established by teammate Hannah Zurn. Nuckolls set this record in the preliminary round and chose not to swim in the final. She also reached the B final in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing 20th with a time of 5:15.89 after recording 5:14.84 earlier.

Senior Caroline Chapon swam the 200-yard individual medley in 2:11.38 and placed 20th in the B final with a time of 2:13.95. She recorded the fastest time in the MIAC for the 50-yard freestyle this season at 24.44. Chapon, Nuckolls, Verity Wray-Raabolle, and Carolyn Wolking secured 13th in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 4:01.16, the second-best time in the MIAC.

On Saturday, the 200-yard medley relay team of Wray-Raabolle, Wolking, Chapon, and Olga Merkadeau placed 13th in 1:49.22, also ranking second in the MIAC this season. Wray-Raabolle qualified for the A final in the 100-yard backstroke, recording a time of 57.96, which leads the MIAC. She finished 10th in the final with a time of 58.32. Chapon and Nuckolls both competed in the B final of the 400-yard individual medley, finishing 13th and 14th. Wolking placed 12th in the B final of the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:08.48. Nuckolls, Chapon, Merkadeau, and Natalie Pollock placed 7th in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 8:03.74.

On the final day, Nuckolls finished 9th in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 18:01.83. Wray-Raabolle reached the B final in the 200-yard backstroke, swimming 2:12.74 in the prelims. Wolking qualified for the B final in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:30.91.

Macalester will host the Roger Ahlman Invitational on December 6-7 at Riley Pool, concluding the semester’s competitions. For complete results, click here.