Dukes Win Sun Belt Championship; Claim Sixth Conference Title in Seven Seasons

Saturday, February 17

Orlando, Fla.

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

James Madison University

Day Four

Dukes Win Sun Belt Championship; Claim Sixth Conference Title in Seven Seasons

2/17/2024 9:09:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

ORLANDO, Fla. – For the sixth time in seven seasons, James Madison swimming & diving held up the champion's trophy at the end of its conference championship as the Dukes won the Sun Belt Conference Championship on Saturday inside the Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center. This is the first Sun Belt title awarded since being sponsored again, with the last title coming in 2013.

The Dukes won four consecutive CAA titles from 2018-21 before winning the ECAC title in 2022. Overall, the six titles have been spread across three difference conferences.

In addition to the team title for the Dukes, Alexa Holloway earned top diving scorer of the meet while Madison Cottrell was named top swimming scorer of the meet.

JMU won by scoring 1,091 points across the four days, setting a championship record for the Sun Belt. The Dukes were followed by Marshall (779.5), Georgia Southern (653.5) and Old Dominion (456) in the four-team field.

Prelims

Six Dukes advanced to the 200 Back finals to begin the morning session. Led by Cameron Gring's top time of 1:58.68, five Dukes qualified for the A heat including Madison Cottrell (1:59.03), Lauren Aylmer (2:00.08), Riley Nugent (2:01.81) and Emily Drakopoulos (2:02.15). Suzanne Earnshaw swam a time of 2:06.87 to move to the B heat.
JMU occupied half the lanes of the A finals in the 100 Free after four advanced from prelims. Jamie Cornwell swam a Sun Belt Championship record time of 49.73 to earn the top spot, and was joined by Sydni Diehl (50.80), Grace Bousum (50.85) and Alex Volk (51.34). Joining the quartet in the evening will be Emily Wisniewski, who swam a time of 52.85 to move to the B heat of finals.
In the 200 Breast, Riley Bridgman swam the fifth fastest time in program history at 2:14.67. Rachael Brown (2:19.09) and Ann Chappell Ellington (2:22.25) joined her in moving to the A heat of the finals. Suzanne Earnshaw qualified for the B heat with a time of 2:23.53 and Abby Zindler qualified for the C heat with a time of 2:21.87.
Angela Ritchie (2:03.74), Jess Pryne (2:03.93) and Abby Maguire (2:04.93) all qualified for the A finals in the 200 Fly. Rachel McCoy swam a time of 2:06.93 to head to the C finals.

Finals

In the first event of the evening session, Katelyn Fitzgerald claimed the eighth fastest time in program history in the 1650 Free with a time of 16:52.26 to earn the silver medal. Maguire finished right behind her for the bronze with a time of 16:56.93.
The Dukes swept the 200 Back with Cottrell (1:58.68) earning her third gold medal of the weekend. She was followed by Gring (1:58.82) for the silver and Aylmer (1:59.18) for the bronze.
Cornwell and Bousum went 1-2 in the 100 Free, with Cornwell's time of 49.70 good enough to claim gold and reset the Sun Belt Championship record she set in the morning. Bousum took the silver with a time of 50.24.
Bridgman lowered her time but maintained the fifth fastest 200 Breast time at JMU with a time of 2:14.17 to earn the silver medal.
In the final individual event of the championship, Pryne swam a time of 2:01.85 to win the bronze in the 200 Fly.
To end the evening, the team of Bousum, Cottrell, Diehl and Cornwell solidified the win with a 3:19.86 gold medal effort to set a school and Sun Belt Championship record in the 400 Free Relay.

Program Top 10 Placements

Katelyn Fitzgerald (eighth in the 1650 Free; 16:52.26)
Riley Bridgman (fifth in the 200 Breast; 2:14.17)
Grace Bousum, Madison Cottrell, Sydni Diehl and Jamie Cornwell (first in the 400 Free Relay; 3:19.86)

Quoting Head Coach Dane Pedersen
"I'm so thrilled and happy for our girls and all their hard work especially our seniors. Winning a championship is hard and involves so many moving pieces. I'm thankful for the support by our admin and specifically Jenn Phillips. This one was also for Mr. Bourne as a retirement gift from our program to him."

Up Next
The Dukes will have two weeks off before they head to the ECAC Championships in Annapolis, Md. on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy from March 1-3.