Dukes Split JMU Invitational Competition on Senior Day

Saturday, January 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

10 a.m.

James Madison University

179.5

190.5

Marshall

1/21/2017 2:13:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

@JMUSwimDive Meet Results Photo Gallery Highlights

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Honoring the seven graduating Dukes on "Senior Day," James Madison swimming & diving split competition during the final dual meet of the season to close the JMU Invitational Saturday inside Savage Natatorium.

The Dukes toppled VMI, 157.0 to 12.0, before Marshall edged by the Dukes, 190.5 to 179.5. James Madison closed the dual season with a final record of 8-1.

JMU opened Saturday's session with a second-place finish in the 400 medley relay as junior Abby Ortman, junior Katie Parker, sophomore Jillian Breeger and junior Quinn MacMillan touched with a time of 3:51.91.

Senior Olivia Lehman earned the first individual victory for James Madison after posting a NCAA Zone qualifying score of 291.45 in the 1-meter dive. Freshman Hope Byrum placed third in the 1-meter with a score of 253.15, her highest of the season.

The Dukes closed Saturday's competition strong winning two of the final three events. Freshman Bonnie Zhang crushed the competition in the 500 freestyle, finishing four second faster than Marshall's Angelica Di Marzio and winning with a time of 5:02.59. Parker, MacMillan, freshman Mackenzie Gring and Zhang closed Saturday with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:28.79.

QUOTING COACH PEDERSEN
"At a championship meet, we swim morning and night sessions over three days of competition. What we wanted to do coming into today's session was to act like last night was a night session of a championship. We focused on doing the proper things to make sure we recovered our bodies and our minds the right way. From a preparedness standpoint, our girls did a very good job. The energy was there, which was good to see. We had several different relay combinations and swimmers in different events than normal, so we learned a lot as a coaching staff and as a team."

TOP RESULTS - VIEW FULL RESULTS
200 Freestyle Relay – Mackenzie Gring, Quinn MacMillan, Katie Parker, Bonnie Zhang (1:35.85)
400 IM – Emma Gourdie (4:37.04)
100 Freestyle – Quinn MacMillan (51.58)
200 Backstroke – Abby Ortman (2:06.47)
100 Butterfly - Katie Parker (56.59)
200 Breaststroke – Megan Marsh (2:24.58)

LEHMAN DOMINATES DUALS
Senior Olivia Lehman closed out her final dual meet of the season by sweeping both the 3-meter and 1-meter dive, but dominating a dual meet is second nature to Lehman. The senior closes her career placing first in 19 out of 20 events over dual competition. Her only loss came during the first meet of her senior season when freshman Carlyn McNeely won the 3-meter in the season opener against Liberty. This season, Lehman has earned a NCAA Zone qualifying score in every dual event.

PHOTO OF THE MEET - VIEW FULL GALLERY

Senior Nina Tremols swims the butterfly leg as part of the 400 medley relay to open Saturday's meet.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
James Madison closed its home competition with a special senior class relay squad in the 400 freestyle relay. Seniors Nina Tremols, Claire Adkins, Shannon Harper, and Maddy Murphy swan their final event inside Savage Natatorium placing fifth with a time of 3:40.02.

UP NEXT
James Madison swimming and diving closes the regular season with two separate meets. The swimmers will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to compete in the Janis Hape Dowd Nike Cup hosted by North Carolina on Feb. 3-5. Preliminary events begin each morning at 10 a.m., while finals will follow at 6 p.m. The Duke divers will close their regular season inside Savage Natatorium, hosting the JMU Diving Invitational. The competition begins on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. and concludes on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m.