JMU Takes Third in Liberty Invitational

Friday, November 16

Lynchburg, Va.

All Day

James Madison University

Liberty Invitational

11/18/2018 7:50:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

@JMUSwimDive Liberty Invitational - Final Results

LYNCHBURG, Va. – James Madison swimming & diving finished the Liberty Invitational in third with a score of 1,650.

The U.S. Naval Academy stood atop the podium after scoring 2,770 followed by host Liberty's 1,883. The Dukes were followed by Campbell University (1,603.5) and Georgia Southern (1,432.5).

MEET NOTES
- Madison Oster kicked off the final day with a season-high, third-place finish in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 16:55.73. This is also a top performance for JMU on the season.
- Lauren Soleo also set a season-high in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 17:21.97.
- Clocking in at 2:00.23, Bonnie Zhang recorded a season-high in the 200 backstroke.
- Zhang took the first individual victory of the day in the 100 freestyle with a 49.60 mark – a top performance for the Dukes on the season.
- Also in the 100 freestyle Jillian Breeger swam a 51.00 for a season high to finish in third.
- With a time of 2:20.48, Jessica Pierce set a top JMU on the season in the 200 backstroke.
- Kristie Darmody set a season best with her 2:05.69 in the 200 butterfly.
- In the 400 freestyle relay, the team of MacKenzie Gring, Breeger, Sydney Kirsch and Zhang placed second with a time of 3:25.99.

QUOTING COACH PEDERSEN
"This was an overall good weekend for us. The girls performed really well without any break from their regular training schedule. They were competing tired and performed well. There are a lot of learning points and information for us to debrief and grow from. I'm excited to enter the next phase of our training and continue to build toward our championships in February."

FINAL RESULTS

1650 Freestyle
3rd – Madison Oster – 16:56.71
6th – Julianna Jones – 17:08.66
9th – Sidney Whitfield – 17:15.99
10th – Lauren Soleo – 17:21.97
12th – Bailey Butler – 17:30.66

200 Backstroke
3rd – Bonnie Zhang – 2:00.23
9th – Kristie Darmody – 2:05.85
11th – Kelly Long – 2:05.85
13th – Bronwyn Keating – 2:07.75

100 Freestyle
1st – Bonnie Zhang – 49.60
3rd – Jillian Breeger – 51.00
7th – Sydney Kirsch – 51.68
18th – Megan Marsh – 52.90
19th – Paige Assaid – 52.42

200 Breaststroke
10th – Jessica Pierce – 2:20.48
13th – Hannah Lagod – 2:24.93

200 Butterfly
7th – Kristie Darmody – 2:05.69
15th – Bailey Butler – 2:10.14

400 Freestyle Relay
2nd – Gring, Breeger, Kirsch, Zhang – 3:25.99
6th – Keating, Assaid, Marsh, Darmody – 3:29.41

UP NEXT
The Dukes will return to action in 2019, traveling to Christiansburg, Va. to challenge George Washington, Cincinnati and host Virginia Tech on Jan. 19 at 11 a.m.