Alissa Ellingson (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) has continued to be the top highlight for the St. Catherine University swimming and diving team each meet. This weekend was no different as she set a new school record in the 100 Butterfly among a talented field of Division II and III swimmers at the St. Cloud State University Invite in Rochester, Minnesota. For her milestone, Ellingson has been named the Wildcat Athlete of the Week.Â
On the final day of the three-day competition, Ellingson recorded a season-best time of 58.36 in the 100 Butterfly to better the previous St. Kate's record of 58.60 set by Bridget Perkins in 2009. In Sunday's evening session, Ellingson swam 1:00.60 in the finals to place eighth. Her race was the second of three swims within a 30-minute time period that included a sixth-place finish in the 200 Breaststroke – an event she swam a career-best 2:27.54 in the prelims session.Â
Saturday was also a strong day for Ellingson who placed ninth in the 100 Individual Medley with a new career-best time of 1:00.65. She also qualified for finals in the 100 Breaststroke with a season-best clocking of 1:07.67 and led off the Wildcats' 200 Freestyle Relay that finished in 1:42.97 with a season-best split of 25.11.Â
Friday, Ellingson swam a 200 Butterfly time trial of 2:12.85 that was a five-second career-best and jsut three seconds from the St. Kate's record. She also swam a career-best time of 1:59.33 in 200 Freestyle split as the lead off leg of the Wildcats' 800 Freestyle relay team that clocked a season-best time of 8:09.70.Â
This season, Ellingson ranks first in the MIAC in the 100 Individual Medley, second in the 100 and 200 Butterfly events, thrid in the 200 Breaststroke and fourth in the 100 Breaststroke.Â
Ellingson and the remainder of the Wildcats will take several weeks offbefore heading to Florida for a taining trip in January. They will return to competition at the University of St. Thomas Meet of the Saints Jan. 16, 2016, at 11 a.m. in St. Paul.Â
