Washington, D.C. - Freshman
Lucy Backus of the Duquesne University swimming & diving team was selected as the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after her performance at the Richmond Duals, announced by the league office Tuesday.
Backus, a native of Keller, Texas, earned eight medals in her first-ever Richmond Duals, helping the Dukes post the highest point total on day one before defeating Richmond on day two. She contributed to Duquesne's 800.50 points on the opening day and helped the Dukes edge the host Spiders, 151-148, in Saturday's dual meet at the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex.
On the first day of competition, Backus delivered a standout performance, capturing two gold medals. She anchored the Dukes' 400-yard medley relay team alongside sophomore
Sierra Snow, senior
Sydney Severini, and sophomore
Rachel Howard to a first-place finish in 3:48.41. Backus carried that momentum into her individual events, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 23.58, the third-fastest time in the Atlantic 10 this season. She then went on to add another gold to her resume in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.13. Backus also led off the 200-freestyle relay, which clocked in at 1:36.44 to earn a second-place finish.
The Texas native carried that momentum into day two, claiming first place in the 50-yard freestyle (23.76) and finishing second in the 100-yard free (52.32). She capped off the weekend by anchoring the Dukes' 200 medley relay (1:45.63) and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:30.15), with both squads earning second-place finishes.
Backus becomes the second Duquesne swimmer in the past two seasons to earn Rookie of the Week honors following her performance at the Richmond Duals.
UP NEXT
Duquesne will be idle until November, when it returns to Towers Pool for its home debut against Saint Peter's on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 11:00 a.m. The diving team will also be in action that day, traveling to Clarion to compete in the Clarion Fall Invite at 12:00 p.m.
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