HAMPTON, Va. – The 24th-ranked Salisbury University women's swimming team used a big showing in the 500-yard freestyle to strengthen its hold at the top of the table at the 2026 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Swimming & Diving Championships on Friday at the Hampton Aquaplex.
The Sea Gulls built on their initial lead to go nearly 300 points clear of the field of 10 after the second day of competition, boasting 591 points with Mary Washington (328.5) and Montclair State (309) a distant second and third, respectively.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Rowan O'Donoghue led the way in a bountiful 500 free final for SU, seizing the gold medal in dominant fashion at 4:53.23, nearly nine seconds faster than her entry time. O'Donoghue led the charge as the Sea Gulls swept the top six places in the event.
- Addi Wood earned the silver in the event at 4:59.31, followed by Sadie Hebert with the bronze at 5:01.59. Finishing four-five-six were Jenna Krawlzik (5:05.27), Olivia Polucha (5:07.33), and Rachel Rickabaugh (5:08.54). O'Donoghue and Wood each cleared the NCAA B-cut standard in the 500 free.
- SU saw its 400 medley relay team also make the NCAA B-cut en route to a silver medal, with Isabelle Salvatore, Mackenzie Gula, Lily Griffin, and O'Donoghue touching second in 3:48.69.
- Libby Miyashita finished just off the podium in the 200 individual medley, taking fourth in 2:08.29. Gula (2:10.82) and Maddie Powell (2:11.17) placed seventh and 10th, respectively.
- In the 50 free, Salisbury placed sixth-through-ninth behind Griffin (24.19), Alexa Hilty (24.39), Salvatore (24.70), and Kaitlyn McGuire (24.11), with McGuire winning the heat featuring the ninth-through-16th qualifiers in the event.
The Sea Gulls will look to separate themselves further from the field on Day 3 of the NJAC Championships on Saturday, with prelims slated for 9:30 a.m. and finals at 5:30 p.m.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 206 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
