Results

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Completing in its first-ever Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Swimming & Diving Championship, the University of New England women's swimming team finished 3rd out of the 10 institutions vying for the 2022 title. The three-day event, held at the Boston Sports Institute, wrapped up on Sunday (Feb. 6).

The Nor'easters (650) ended up just barely behind runner-up Simmons University (654), with Roger Williams University winning the championship at 1,247 points. Rounding out the top five were Norwich University (579) and Regis College (570).

Katie Durrua had the top finish in an event for UNE, earning a medal by taking second place in the 200-yard butterfly (2:20.40). She also touched the wall 4th in the 100-butterfly (1:02.49) and 5th in the 50-butterfly (28.10).

Additionally, Durrua combined with Haley Griffin, April Falstad, and Annika Doeppers for 3rd in the 800-freestyle relay, with program-record time of 8:21.81 -- bettering a nine-year mark (8:23.03). The same four teamed up for 5th in the 400-medley relay (4:22.23).

Griffin had a couple 4th-place efforts, individually, and both weren't far off the lead pace in the respective events. In the 100-backstroke, her time of 1:03.16 was a mere 0.64 seconds behind the winner. With a 200-backstroke time of 2:14.47, she was 4.41 seconds back.

Doeppers notched UNE's other top-5 solo performance with 4th in the 500-freestyle (5:30.14), just nine seconds after first place. She also claimed 6th in the 50-breaststroke (34.00), 1.81 out of the top spot.

Griffin, Doeppers, and Durrua were joined by Kheara Zito to wind up 5th in the 200-medley relay (1:58.22). Falstad, Griffin, and Zito added a final leg from Mary Washlick to finish 6th in the 200-freestyle relay (1:45.55).

The Nor'easters will be back at home on Saturday (12 p.m.) to take on Maine Maritime Academy and Elms College.