Bucknell University
ECAC Championships
Women's Swim & Dive Remains in Second Place Through Day Two of ECAC Championships
3/2/2024 9:25:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bucknell women's swimming & diving team saw five top-three finishes, including a runner-up performance in the 100 backstroke by Esme Hunter, and remain in second place out of 18 teams at the ECAC Championships. Bucknell, with 409 points, trails Navy (571.5). The Bison have a healthy 138.5-point lead over third-place Penn.
The Bison posted 13 top-eight finishes overall on Saturday, including three in the 100 backstroke. Hunter led the trio with a 55.17, which placed her just behind Penn's Sophia Henriksen (55.09). Hunter's time was just off her personal best of 55.14, which ranks sixth in school history. Coming in behind her in fifth was Kyla Kelly with a 57.14, and Talia Bugel went eighth with a 58.23.
Both of Bucknell's relay teams posted third-place finishes. The 200 medley relay team of Bugel, Gillian Camperlengo, Megan Leyden and Sara Ketron posted a 1:45.23 to finish behind Penn (1:43.83) and Navy (1:42.72). Kelly Byrne, Ketron, Stephanie Walsh and Ashley Piacentino went third in the 800 freestyle relay with a 7:37.74, placing behind Columbia (7:33.31) and the Mids (7:31.80).
Also adding a third-place finish was Rylie Giles in the 200 freestyle with a 1:50.45. Piacentino earned A finals points in the event as well, touching the wall eighth with a 1:53.72.
The Bison had three point scorers in both the 100 breast and the 100 butterfly. Kate Handley broke 63 seconds in the 100 breaststroke once again, recording a 1:02.67 for fifth place. Samantha Benzija finished second in the B final with a 1:05.53, and Camperlengo placed 12th overall with a 1:06.03.
Leyden led the trio in the 100 butterfly with a 56.44 to place eighth. Benzija (56.77) and Ketron (57.17) went 14th and 15th, respectively.
Byrne was Bucknell's lone finalist in the 400 IM, taking seventh place with a 4:24.04.
The Bison posted another strong day on the boards, as Meghan Catherwood and Reggie Frias both place among the top five in the 3-meter. Catherwood's 254.80 was good enough for third, while Frias placed fifth with a 246.45. Kate Gottwald finished eighth with a 212.45.
The Bison conclude the ECAC Championships on Sunday. The prelims begin at 9 a.m. with the 200 backstroke, and the finals continue at 4 p.m.
2nd Place:
100 Backstroke – Esme Hunter (55.17)
3rd Place:
1-Meter Dive – Meghan Catherwood (254.80)
200 Medley Relay – Talia Bugel, Gillian Camperlengo, Megan Leyden, Sara Ketron (1:45.23)
200 Freestyle – Rylie Giles (1:50.45)
800 Freestyle Relay – Kelly Byrne, Sara Ketron, Stephanie Walsh, Ashley Piacentino (7:37.74)
5th Place:
1-Meter Dive – Reggie Frias (246.45)
100 Breaststroke – Kate Handley (1:02.67)
100 Backstroke – Kyla Kelly (57.14)
7th Place:
400 IM – Kelly Byrne (4:24.04)
8th Place:
1-Meter Dive – Kate Gottwald (212.25)
100 Butterfly – Megan Leyden (56.44)
200 Freestyle – Ashley Piacentino (1:53.72)
100 Backstroke – Talia Bugel (58.23)
10th Place:
100 Breaststroke – Samantha Benzija (1:05.53)
12th Place:
100 Breaststroke – Gillian Camperlengo (1:06.03)
14th Place:
100 Butterfly – Samantha Benzija (56.77)
15th Place:
100 Butterfly – Sara Ketron (57.17)
Players Mentioned
