The 2024 NCAA Division III National Championships got underway for the Emory University women's swimming & diving team on Wednesday at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Eagles' first day of competition featured two All-America podium finishes and one consolation final appearance. Following Wednesday's events, Emory finds itself in eighth place with 43 points. Denison University is the day one leader, totaling 95 points.
Headlining the Eagles on night one was senior Penelope Helm who reached the podium for the second straight year in the 500 Freestyle. Helm, who posted the second-best trial time in the morning, took sixth place in the championship final with a time of 4:55.03.
After Helm opened the evening with her performance in the 500 Free, the Eagles' group of senior Megan Jungers, freshmen Katie Cohen and Maren McDonald and sophomore Jane Sanderson closed out the night with a seventh place finish in the 200 Medley Relay. The team clocked in at 1:41.62 after going for 1:42.60 in the morning.
Junior Jada Chatoor garnered additional points for the Eagles on Wednesday with her 11th place showing in the consolation of the 500 Freestyle. It is her first time placing inside the top-16 in the event.
The Emory women had a total of 16 swimmers in action on Wednesday. Sanderson and sophomore Isabel Huang paced the Eagles in the 50 Freestyle and 200 IM, with Huang claiming 18th place in the 200 IM at 2:04.98 and Sanderson tying for 18th in the 50 Freestyle at 23.54.
The NCAA Championships continue Thursday with trials getting underway at 10:00 AM followed by the finals at 6:00 PM. Day two's schedule will feature the 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 IM, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle, 400 Medley Relay and the women's 1-meter diving.