Four School Records Fall as Dukes Increase Lead on Day Three of Sun Belt Championship

Friday, February 16

Orlando, Fla.

10 a.m. - Prelims/6 p.m. - Finals

James Madison University

Day Three

Four School Records Fall as Dukes Increase Lead on Day Three of Sun Belt Championship

2/16/2024 8:54:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

ORLANDO, Fla. – Four James Madison swimming & diving records fell on the third day of the 2023-24 Sun Belt Conference Championship on Friday at the Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center as the Dukes increased their hold on the team points lead.

A key highlight of the four school records broken is Madison Cottrell, who broke the 100 Fly and 100 Back JMU records in the prelims before resetting them both in the finals. She was also a part of the record breaking 400 Medley Relay team. Alexa Holloway broke the fourth record, doing so on the 1-meter board.

JMU pushed its lead to over 200 points, as it'll head into the fourth and final day with a total of 766 points. Marshall follows at 550 points, with Georgia Southern (443) and Old Dominion (321) rounding out the field.

Prelims

Cottrell took the top time in the 100 Fly, recoding an NCAA "B" cut time of 53.06 and reset the JMU record in the event that she already held. Ann Chappell Ellington joined her in advancing to the A finals with a time of 55.89.
The pair of Jess Pryne (4:21.09) and Angela Ritchie (4:29.09) advanced to the finals of the 400 IM, both in the A heat.
In the 200 Free prelims, five Dukes advanced to the finals led by Grace Bousum with a time of 1:49.99. Jamie Cornwell (1:50.01), Katelyn Fitzgerald (1:50.35) and Alex Volk (1:51.61) joined her in moving on to the A finals. Emily Wisniewski qualified for the B heat with a time of 1:54.11.
Riley Bridgman swam the top time in the 100 Breast and recorded the third fastest time in program history with a 1:02.05. Rachael Brown joined her in moving to the A finals with a time of 1:04.38 while Suzanne Earnshaw swam a time of 1:05.18 to move to the B finals.
The Dukes put five swimmers into the A finals of the 100 Back, led by Cottrell who set her second JMU record of the morning with a time of 53.94. Cameron Gring remained in third place in program history with a time of 54.12 while Sydni Diehl moved into eighth place with a time of 55.14. Lauren Aylmer (55.48) and Emily Drakopoulos (56.35) advanced as well.

Finals

To begin the evening, Cottrell reset her school record in the 100 Fly with another NCAA "B" cut time of 52.93 to win the gold. It is her fourth consecutive gold medal in the 100 Fly, winning it in four different conferences.
Pryne earned a gold medal in the 400 IM for the third straight year, swimming an NCAA "B" cut time of 4:15.65.
The Dukes swept the 200 Free, as Bousum took the gold with the sixth fastest time in program history at 1:48.43. Fitzgerald swam the 10^th fastest time to win the silver at 1:49.10 and Cornwell completed the sweep with the bronze behind a time of 1:49.24.
In the 100 Breast, Bridgman became the first JMU freshman since Cottrell in the 200 Back at the 2021 CAA Championship to record an NCAA "B" cut time. Bridgman swam a time of 1:01.37 to win the silver.
The Dukes swept the podium in the 100 Back for their second sweep of the night, led by Cottrell's Sun Belt Championship and JMU record time of 53.47, an NCAA "B" cut time. Gring won the silver with a time of 54.07 to move into a tie for second place at JMU while Diehl earned bronze with a time of 54.86 to move into seventh place.
Holloway earned her second gold on the boards, obliterating the Sun Belt record and setting a JMU record with her score of 332.10. Her score ranks in the top 60 nationally. Vitolo scored a 290.30 to earn the bronze in the event.
To cap the night, the team of Gring, Bridgman, Cottrell and Cornwell set a Sun Belt and JMU record in the 400 Medley Relay with a time of 3:38.46 to win the gold medal.

Program Top 10 Placements

Madison Cottrell (first in the 100 Fly; 52.93 & first in the 100 Back; 53.47)
Grace Bousum (sixth in the 200 Free; 1:48.43)
Katelyn Fitzgerald (10^th in the 200 Free; 1:49.10)
Riley Brigman (third in the 100 Breast; 1:01.37)
Cameron Gring (tied for second in the 100 Back; 54.07)
Sydni Diehl (seventh in the 100 Back; 54.86)
Alexa Holloway (first on the 1-meter; 332.10)
Cameron Gring, Riley Bridgman, Madison Cottrell and Jamie Cornwell (first in the 400 Medley Relay; 3:38.46)

Up Next
The Dukes will head into the final day of the Sun Belt Championship on Saturday, Feb. 17 looking for their fifth conference title in six seasons. Prelims start at 10 a.m. with finals starting at 6 p.m. Live results can be found on the Meet Mobile App with the finals being streaming on ESPN+. The final day will feature the 1650 Free, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, platform diving and the 400 Free Relay.