Dukes Compete in Quad Meet

Saturday, January 19

Christiansburg, Va.

11 AM

James Madison University

192

106

Virginia Tech

1/19/2019 5:01:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. - In its first competition in nearly two months, James Madison swimming & diving went 1-1-1 on Saturday afternoon in the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. The Dukes defeated George Washington (192-108), lost to Virginia Tech (192-106) and tied with Cincinnati (150-150).

The Dukes improve to 7-2-1 overall on the season while they remain 4-0 in Colonial Athletic Association action.

Bonnie Zhang shined for the Dukes, grabbing two individual first-place finishes in the 100 and 200 freestyle events. She was a member of both relay teams that placed second in the 400 medley and first in the 200 freestyle.

MEET NOTES

With the help of Paige Assaid, Megan Marsh, Morgan Whaley and Zhang, the Dukes started the meet on a high note, placing second in the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:48.78.
Zhang captured the Dukes' first top finish of the meet, clocking in at 1:50.42 for a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle.
Marsh swam a season-best time of 1:04.93 in the 100 breaststroke, picking up a second-place finish.
Jillian Breeger earned another first-place finish for JMU with a time of 23.51 in the 50 freestyle. Sydney Kirsch finished four in the event with a 23.98 mark.
The Dukes went one and two in the 100 freestyle as Zhang and Breeger finished with 50.22 and 51.60 marks, respectively. This marks the fourth first-place finish for Zhang in this event for the 2018-2019 season.
Assaid garnered a third-place finish in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:02.32. This mark is her second best in the event this season.
Hope Byrum and Emily Gross finished second and third in the 1-meter dive as both tallied zone-qualifying scores, posting 295 and 292.65 marks, respectively. The duo posted zone-qualifying scores once again in the 3-meter dive with Byrum earning a score of 289 for fourth place and Gross in sixth with 280.05.
Breeger, Zhang, MacKenzie Gring and Kirsch closed out the afternoon on top as the Dukes swam a 1:33.89 in the 200 freestyle relay for a first-place finish.

QUOTING COACH PEDERSEN
"Looking at the performance aspect of today, I thought our team did a great job swimming and diving while tired. At this point in the season, all teams are tired after winter training and starting a new academic semester, but the coaching staff was very happy with how the team performed. It's a great sign as we move toward our championship!"

"Our team also did an excellent job of being themselves. We are at our best when we're having fun, laughing and supporting one another, The girls' dynamic was genuine and natural which is a sign of the work they've done to become a true family."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will travel to Richmond to take on the Spiders on Saturday, Jan. 26. JMU will quickly be back in action as they host Marshall on Sunday, Jan. 27 for Senior Day.