JMU Competes in First Day of the CAA Swimming Championships

Monday, March 29

Christiansburg, Va.

James Madison University

CAA Swimming Championships

JMU Competes in First Day of the CAA Swimming Championships

3/29/2021 9:44:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

CHRISTIANSBURG, VA – James Madison swimming battled to win the silver in four of the five events on the first day of the Colonial Athletic Association Championships at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

The first event of the finals was the 200-yard freestyle relay as Madison Cottrell, Alaina Park, Jordyn Schnell and Cameron Gring took the silver finishing with a time of 1:31.66. The group made their mark in the JMU record book taking over fourth place in JMU's All-Time Top-10 200-yard free relay results.

Next up was the 500-yard freestyle as Julianna Jones and Bailey Butler would represent the Dukes in the A Finals. Jones claimed the silver with a time of 4:48.55, while Butler finished fourth with a time of 4:53.46. The two seniors finished in JMU's All-Time Top-10 500-yard freestyle times, Jones taking over second, Butler taking the 10th spot.

Sidney Whitfield placed 11^th in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:58.21, while Jillian Santiago finished with a time of 5:04.16.

Gring battled in the 200-yard individual medley finished with a season-best time of 2:01.39 to claim second at the championships. Karen Siddoway finished fifth with a time of 2:04.19, her fastest time this season. Morgan Whaley dominated in the B Finals of the event to finish ninth overall with a time of 2:03.71.

In the B Finals of the 50-yard free Paige Assaid and Schnell battled each other for first as Schnell captured it with a time of 23.27 to placed ninth overall. Assaid finished 10^th overall with a time of 23.43.

The final event of the night was the 400-yard medley relay. JMU was represented by the team of Gring, Mackenzie Lawson, Cottrell and Schnell. The group took home the silver with a time of 3:42.76.

Quoting Coach Pedersen
"The team did a great job on the first day handling all the new protocols of the championships," said Head Coach Dane Pedersen. "Our girls did a good job swimming faster and racing hard tonight, with many improving the times they recorded this morning. It was a solid start to our championships. We are excited for tomorrow's events."

Championships Standings
1.     William&Mary                     208
2.     JMU                166
3. Towson           153
4.     Delaware            116
5. UNCW             115
6. Drexel 87

Up Next
James Madison swimming returns to the Christiansburg Aquatic Center for the second day of the Colonial Athletic Association Swimming Championships. The prelims will start at 12:10 p.m. and the finals will begin at 7:25 p.m.