James Madison Women Take Down Richmond 182-118

Meet Stats

Press Release

Courtesy of James Madison Athletics

Placing first in 11 of 16 events, James Madison swimming and diving opened the 2017 slate with a 182.0-118.0 victory over Richmond inside the Robins Center Natatorium on Saturday. The Dukes improved to 7-0 in dual competition while the Spiders fell to 4-4.

Despite having not competed over seven weeks, James Madison was strong off the blocks and on the boards with 29 top-three finishes over 16 events. Junior Katie Parker led the Dukes with 29 total points that included two individual wins. Freshman Bonnie Zhang also racked up two individual wins for a total of 29 points. The Dukes dominated the diving competition as senior Olivia Lehman and freshman Carlyn McNeely finished first and second, respectively, in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events.

JMU started Saturday’s meet notching the first victory of the day as junior Abby Ortman, Parker, senior Nina Tremols and freshman Mackenzie Gring clocked a time of 1:47.16 in the 200 medley relay.
Senior Claire Adkins continued the momentum by winning the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:31.18, her fastest finish in the event this season. Zhang earned JMU’s third consecutive victory with a time of 1:50.57, the fastest by any Duke this season, in the 200 freestyle. Zhang her second individual victory of the dam in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.30.

Parker earned her fourth sweep in the breaststroke this season with times of 1:05.11 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:20.79 in the 200 breaststroke. With the fastest swim of the season in the event, junior Quinn MacMillan won the 500 freestyle for JMU with a time of 4:57.68. Sophomore Jillian Breeger won her first individual event of the season in the 100 butterfly with a final time of 57.89.

Sweeping the top two spots in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competition, JMU diving was dominate against the spiders. Lehman posted the second-highest score in the 3-meter dive this season with her third NCAA Zone qualify score of 305.10. Lehman added a second NCAA Zone qualify score in the 1-meter competition with a final total of 279.15. McNeely earned second place finishes in both the 3-meter and 1-meter dives with scores of 262.50 and 264.67, respectively.

James Madison closed the competition with a final relay victory in the 200 freestyle as Zhang, Breeger, MacMillan and Gring turned in a time of 1:36.37 to win the event.

QUOTING COACH PEDERSEN
“Today was the first time we’ve raced in over seven weeks, so it was nice to be back on the blocks and boards competing against a quality opponent. Our girls had to not only battle Richmond but their own tired bodies due to training. During this time of the season, their bodies are tired, which can affect their mental state. It is important for them to race tired both mentally and physically and overcome that fatigue.”

UP NEXT
The Dukes return to Savage Natatorium for the final swim meet of the season as James Madison hosts Marshall and VMI during the JMU Invitational on Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21. The action begins on Friday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. when the Dukes face Marshall to head-to-head competition. VMI will join JMU and the Herd on Saturday, Jan. 21 for “Senior Day.” Saturday’s slate is set to begin at 10 a.m.

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