James Madison Captures Third Straight CAA Swimming & Diving Title
CHAMP CENTRAL | FINAL RESULTS
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (Feb. 22, 2020) – The James Madison women’s swimming & diving team made it three CAA titles in a row, winning three events on the final night of the 2020 CAA Swimming & Diving Championships at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
James Madison took gold on both boards over the four-day championship, and won five events in the pool. Julianna Jones took home a team-high two gold medals during the championship.
1,650-Yard Freestyle
James Madison swept the podium in the 1,650-yard freestyle and was led by Julianna Jones, who repeated as champion with a time of 16:24.24. Jones has been on the podium in the event in each of her three years. Bailey Butler took silver with a time of 16:50.40, while Kristie Darmody closed out her senior campaign with bronze in the event with a time of 16:53.24.
200-Yard Backstroke
Drexel’s Alexa Kutch became the first CAA swimmer to ever sweep the backstroke events in all four of her years, taking gold in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:55.85. She closes her career as the CAA meet and all-time record holder in the event, setting both marks in 2018. James Madison’s Isabel Anbar took silver with a time of 1:58.54, while Bailey Smith came in third with a time of 1:58.56.
100-Yard Freestyle
Northeastern’s Megan Clark reclaimed her title in the 100 free after winning the event in 2018, coming in with a time 48.67. She edged Bonnie Zhang, who took silver with a time of 48.91. UNCW’s Evan Arsenault took bronze with a time of 49.17.
200-Yard Breaststroke
Drexel’s Gab Rudy completed her sweep of the breaststroke events at the 2020 CAA Championships, taking gold in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:14.54. William & Mary’s Megan Bull took silver with a time of 2:14.62, while Drexel’s Megan Sicinski took bronze with a time of 2:15.04.
200-Yard Butterfly
Towson’s Meg Cowan became the first Tiger to capture gold in the 200-yard butterfly since Victoria Oslund in 2015, posting a time of 1:58.68. Delaware’s Mira Selling took silver with a time of 1:59.10, while William & Mary’s Rebecca Rogers took bronze with a time of 2:02.39.
1-Meter Diving
For the first time in CAA history, there was a tie for the top spot on the podium in the women’s one-meter dive. UNCW’s Courtney Klausen and James Madison’s Emily Gross each took gold with a score of 298.05. Klausen was the first UNCW diver to win the event since Jessica Bader in 1999. Hope Byrum took bronze with a score of 287.85.
400-Yard Freestyle Relay
James Madison repeated as champions in the 400-yard freestyle relay, clocking in with a time of 3:22.68. They are the first team to repeat since the Dukes won three in a row from 2014 to 2016. William & Mary took second with a time of 3:23.25, while UNCW took third with a time of 3.23.99.
Women’s Final Standings
1. James Madison – 676.5
2. William & Mary – 592
3. Towson – 527
4. Drexel – 427
5. Delaware – 375
6. UNCW 299.5
7. Northeastern – 236
Championship Award Winners
Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet: Gab Rudy, Drexel
Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet: Hope Byrum, James Madison
Swimming Coach of the Year: Pablo Marmolejo, Delaware
Diving Coach of the Year: John Wolsh, James Madison