The reigning national champion Emory University Women's Swimming and Diving team returned to the pool Saturday morning to open the 2018-19 season, winning 14 out of 16 events to defeat Birmingham-Southern College, 178-110, at the Birmingham Crossplex.
The Eagles saw three swimmers claim event wins in multiple events, led by senior Julia Durmer in the distance freestyles as she took first in the 500 Free at 5:09.77 and in the 1000 Free at 10:42.34. Sophomore Christy Taylor swept the sprint freestyles, touching first at 24.74 in the 50 Free and at 53.45 in the 100. Newcomer Gaige Elms won both Backstroke events, posting times of 59.78 in the 100 and 2:07.97 in the 200.
Sophomore Katie Kushner swept both diving events at the meet, scoring 242.18 in the 1-meter and 221.25 in the 3-meter.
Of the 14 wins, Emory touched first in both relay events as sophomores Taylor and Bethany Seagraves and freshmen Edie Bates and Taylor Leone won the 200 Medley Relay in a time of 1:49.67 and seniors Fiona Muir, Hannah Baratz, Meg Taylor and sophomore Lucy Daro claimed the 200 Freestyle Relay at 1:38.94.
Other event winners for the Eagles on Saturday included Bates in the 100 Breast (1:07.71), Daro in the 100 Fly (57.22), freshman Allie Dixon in the 200 Fly (2:07.50) and freshman Clio Hancock in the 200 IM (2:09.75).
Emory is back in action next Saturday against Division II power Queens University of Charlotte. The meet is set to get underway at the Madeleine Jude Brown Aquatic Center at 1:00 PM.