ORLANDO, Fla. – The Dukes from James Madison captured the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Swim and Dive Championship with a league-record 1091 team points. The championship concluded Saturday at the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center in Orlando, Fla.
 
The Dukes became the first team in league history to record over 1,000 team points at the championships as they recorded a total of seven meet records including four of the five relay records.
 
The Thundering Herd from Marshall finished second over the championships with 779.5 team points. Georgia Southern finished third with 653.5 points as Old Dominion concluded the event with 456.
 
James Madison diver Alexa Holloway captured the meet’s diving top point scorer with 40 events. Holloway captured the crown in both the 3M and 1M dives. The junior also set a new meet record in the 1M and currently ranks 11th in the country with her score.
 
James Madison junior Madison Cottrell earned the meet’s swimming top point scorer with 60 points. Cottrell won the 100 Fly, 100 Back and 200 Back. She also was a member of four of the Dukes’ relay teams that captured titles.
 
On the final day of the championships, two additional meet records were broken with an NCAA “B” Standard. Overall, seven new meet records were set with eight NCAA “B” Standards occurring on the final two days.
 
Jamie Cornwell from James Madison set a new Sun Belt meet record in the 100 Free with a time of 49.70. Cornwell originally set the record in the prelims and reset the record in the finals.
 
Marshall senior Paige Banton secured her second gold of the championships in the 200 Breast. Previously setting the 100 Breast record, Banton swam the 200 in 2:13.62.
 
The James Madison 400 Free Relay squad of Grace Bousum, Madison Cottrell, Sydni Diehl and Jamie Cornwell became the fourth relay team for the Dukes to set a new Sun Belt meet record. The group swam the event in 3:19.86 to close out the championships.
 
Women’s Team Scores (Final)
1 . James Madison, 1,091
2 . Marshall, 779.5
3 . Georgia Southern, 653.5
4 . Old Dominion, 456
 
Championship Records Broken
1M Dive – Alexa Holloway, James Madison [332.10]
100 Back – Madison Cottrell, James Madison [53.47]
100 Breast – Paige Banton, Marshall [1:01.36]
100 Free – Jamie Cornwell, James Madison [49.70]
200 Free Relay – James Madison [1:30.69]
200 Medley Relay – James Madison [1:38.53]
400 Free Relay – James Madison [3:19.86]
400 Medley Relay – James Madison [3:38.46]
 
Sun Belt Records Broken
1M Dive – Alexa Holloway, James Madison [332.10]