David Bates Photo

UNE matches program-best with 5th place at New England Championships

Results

KINGSTON, R.I. -- The University of New England women's swimming team equaled the program's highest-ever finish at the 2017 New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships taking 5th place out of 21 teams as the four-day meet concluded Sunday evening (Feb. 19) at the Tootell Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.

The only other time that the Nor'easters have fared as well was in 2013.

For the second straight year, Roger Williams University ended atop the team standings, totaling 1452 points to best second-place Simmons College (1259) and then Keene State College (1118). Brandeis University secured the next spot with 785, and UNE's 648.5 was a comfortable margin ahead of 574 by Regis College (Mass.) for the last position in the top five.

Lindsey Thomsen closed out her NEISDA career with three more All-New England efforts, bringing her personal total to nine (8 individual, 1 relay) over her three seasons. Included in her weekend was a spot on the podium (2nd place) in the 50-freestyle and a new team record in the 100-individual medley.

Kayla Burgess doubled her count to six (5 individual, 1 relay) All-New England races over the course of the event. Eleni Bautz picked up her first two solo All-New England credits to give UNE eight such performances in the meet.

The three swimmers, plus McKenna Riley, combined to book another new team record in the 400-freestyle relay.

All-New England performances (top 8 individuals; top 4 relays) in an event:
~ 2nd: Lindsey Thomsen in the 50-freestyle (24.76 | +0.37)
~ 4th: Lindsey Thomsen in the 100-individual medley (1:02.76 | +3.38) * UNE Record-1 (Prelim.)
~ 5th: Lindsey Thomsen in the 100-breaststroke (1:10.08 | +3.90)
~ 5th: Eleni Bautz in the 50-freestyle (25.53 | +1.14)
~ 5th: Kayla Burgess in the 200-butterfly (2:17.71 | +5.22)
~ 6th: Kayla Burgess in the 100-butterfly (1:01.54 | +3.54)
~ 7th: Eleni Bautz in the 100-freestyle (55.55 | +3.46)
~ 7th: Kayla Burgess in the 400-individual medley (4:59.58 | +22.69)

Notable finishes:
~ 5th: 400-medley relay of McKenna RileyLindsey ThomsenKayla Burgess, and Eleni Bautz (4:11.99 | +15.40)
~ 6th: 400-freestyle relay of Lindsey ThomsenMcKenna RileyKayla Burgess, and Eleni Bautz (3:44.57 | +11.47) * UNE Record-2
~ 7th: 200-freestyle relay of Kayla BurgessMcKenna RileyEleni Bautz, and Lindsey Thomsen (1:42.27 | +3.45)
~ 7th: 200-medley relay of Taryn LeachLindsey ThomsenKayla Burgess, and Eleni Bautz (1:56.11 | +9.11)
~ 10th: Eleni Bautz in the 200-freestyle (2:03.67 | +10.13)
~ 11th: Emily Fellows in the 1,650-freestyle (19:39.56 | +2:15.08)
~ 11th: Nicole Robitaille in the 200-butterfly (2:24.32 | +11.83)
~ 12th: Emily Fellows in the 1,000-freestyle (11:38.53 | +1:09.34)
~ 12th: Taryn Leach in the 50-backstroke (29.69 | +2.09)

* UNE Record-1Lindsey Thomsen in the 100-individual medley preliminaries (1:02.43), bettering her own mark (+0.14) set in February 2016
* UNE Record-2: 400-freestyle relay of Lindsey ThomsenMcKenna RileyKayla Burgess, and Eleni Bautz (3:44.57), topping their own mark (+0.50) set during preliminaries earlier in the day, and the previous mark (+0.85) of Amy Miele, Rachel Hanley, Jenn LaComfora, and Lizzie Wareham set in February 2012