ORLANDO, Fla. – James Madison earned gold in all five events and set three new championship records with 388 total team points on the second day of the Sun Belt Women’s Swim and Dive Championships at the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center in Orlando, Fla. on Thursday.
During the preliminary session, James Madison started the morning by placing six of the eight “A” finalists for the 500 Free. In total, 29 season best times and 12 personal best times were tallied as the evening’s finals were set. In the finals, 33 season best times were recorded with 20 personal bests.
In the 500 Free “A” final, James Madison swept the podium and earned a total of 89 points. Angela Ritchie won the event with a personal best time of 4:52.14. Katelyn Fitzgerald won silver in 4:53.34, which was also a season best. Madison Wimmer rounded out the podium in third with a time of 4:54.58, which was a personal best. Preslava Tosheva from Marshall won the “B” final with a time of 4:57.33, as Sarah Pauley from James Madison won the “C” final with a time of 5:01.50.
Moving to the finals for the 200 IM, Jess Pryne defended her crown with a season best time of 2:00.35 to earn gold. Marshall’s Molly Warner picked up the first medal for the Herd in second with a personal best time of 2:00.71. Riley Bridgman from James Madison finished in third with a personal best time of 2:00.95 as less than a second decided the podium placements. Maddy Akin from Marshall swam a personal best 2:05.49 in the “B” final to finish nineth as Marian Cheramy from Old Dominion swam a season best 2:09.18 to win the “C” final. 18 of the 19 times recorded were either season or personal bests across the three finals.
The 50 Free saw Jamie Cornwell return to the top of the podium with a new Sun Belt and school record time of 22.54. The time also became the first NCAA “B” Standard of the championship. Marshall’s Kseniia Luniushina finished in second with a time of 22.83 as Georgia Southern’s Chiara Alberti claimed bronze with a personal best time of 22.93. Mary Dunworth from Old Dominion won the “B” final with a season best time of 23.64 as Loraine Lungu swam a season best time of 24.11 to lead the “C” final.
The 3M Diving preliminaries saw six of the eight top scores be NCAA Zone Qualifying marks. In the “A” final, last season’s Diver of the Year Alexa Holloway from James Madison continued her streak atop the podium with a new Sun Belt Championship record score of 350.35, nearly 22 points past the previous mark. Marshall’s Grace Kelsheimer earned silver with an impressive 345.60. James Madison’s Kate Vitolo earned bronze with a score of 321.20. Abby Ounsworth from Georgia Southern led the “B” final with a score of 256.15.
Heading into the day’s final event in the 200 Free Relay, the James Madison relay team of Alex Volk, Grace Bousum, Madison Wimmer and Jamie Cornwell set a new Sun Belt Championships benchmark in 1:30.59. The time bested the record the Dukes set last season by 0.10. Marshall took second in 1:31.43 as Georgia Southern took third in 1:32.52. Old Dominion finished the relay fourth in 1:34.93.
Friday’s swimming events will include the 100 Butterfly, 400 Individual Medley, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke and 100 Backstroke. The 1M Diving prelims and consolation finals will take place at 1 p.m. before the finals at 6 p.m. The 1-meter Diving final and the 400 Medley Relay will conclude the session.
Women’s Team Scores (through seven events)
1. James Madison, 388
2. Marshall, 299
3. Georgia Southern, 216.5
4. Old Dominion, 121.5
Championship Records Broken
50 Free – Jamie Cornwell, James Madison [22.54]
3M Dive – Alexa Holloway, James Madison [350.35]
200 Free Relay – James Madison [1:30.59]
NCAA “B” Standards
50 Free – Jamie Cornwell, James Madison [22.54]