ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. - Gallaudet University women's swim team took on the second day of the 2025 Atlantic East Conference swimming championships this Friday at The Aquatics Center at the Michael P. O'Brien Athletics & Recreation Center on the campus of St. Mary's College of Maryland.
 
The competition began with preliminary events in which GU swam for qualification in the finals that evening. A placement of 16th and above qualifies a swimmer for the final competition in most events. 
 
Kicking off the morning with the preliminary 500-yard freestyle, senior Jaelynn King (Springfield, Pa.) and first years Alecia Miller (Litchfield, Ill.) and Joy Watkins (Hockley, Texas) all completed the race in 19th (8:39.35), 20th (8:48.17) and 21st place (8:57.80), respectively. Despite none of the Bison qualifying for finals, both Miller and Watkins accomplished new personal records this season. 
 
Next came the 200-yard IM taken on by first year Thea Wrenn (Anchorage, Alaska) who finished in 12th place (3:25.89) and sophomore Tiadra Vang (Kansas City, Kan.) who finished in 13th place (3:54.09). Both of the Bison swimmers held their places in the event final in the evening. Wrenn completed the race in 3:27.07 and Vang decreased her time by two seconds (3:51.59).
 
The third and final event of the day was the 50-yard freestyle, swam by first year pair Eliza Peterson (Snellville, Ga.) and Melany Salcedo Benavides (Woodbridge, Va.). Peterson's preliminary time of 41.50 seconds placed her in 15th place, while her improved time of time of 41.33 kept her in 15th in the finals. Salcedo Benavidas also out swam her initial time, as she swam the race in 42.63 for 16th place in the preliminary and 42.37 for 16th in the finals. Both swimmers landed new personal bests in the competition. 
 
Gallaudet dropped down to sixth place out of six teams with 92 total points.
 
St. Mary's College of Maryland maintained its hold on first place with 274 points, while Marymount (Va.) University is second with 206 points. Immaculata University holds third with 170 points. In a change in standings from the previous night of competition, Marywood University has ascended to fourth place with 151 points. Cedar Crest College is now in fifth (110) while Gallaudet has descended to sixth place (92).

RESULTS (PDF)

• Day 2 - Finals
• Day 2 - Prelims
• Day 1 – Finals

UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns to The Aquatics Center at the Michael P. O'Brien Athletics & Recreation Center tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 15) for Day 3 of the 2025 Atlantic East Conference championships. Preliminaries will start at 10 a.m. and the finals will be held at 6 p.m.