Naima Joy Mackrel was named a 2016-17 Sarah Lawrence Newcomer of the Year as well as Skyline Women’s Swimming Rookie of the Year. She was Champion and First-team Skyline All-Conference (100 backstroke) as well as Second-team Skyline All-Conference (200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay). Mackrel was named Metropolitan All-Conference and Metropolitan All-Academic. She swam in all 12 meets, totaling 423.75 points. Mackrel broke team record in 100 butterfly and contributed to four team relay records while totaling 13 individual wins in dual-meet competition. At SLC Sprint Carnival, Mackrel won 50 backstroke, 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay (Oct. 29). She was champion in 100 backstroke and finalist in 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly at TCNJ Invitational (Dec. 2-4). Mackrel became Skyline Champion and meet-record holder in 100 backstroke; also placed in 100 butterfly (3rd), 50 freestyle (3rd) and 100 freestyle (6th); runner-up in 200 medley and 400 free relays (Jan. 27-28). She was a finalist in 100 backstroke (8th) and place winner in 50 freestyle (17th) at Metropolitan Championships (Feb. 17-19). Mackrel was a three-time Skyline Rookie of the Week and was also named CollegeSwimming.com Conference Swimmer of the Week.
