The Emory University women's swimming & diving team opened the 2025 NCAA Championships on Wednesday at the Greensboro Aquatics Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Eagles were led by three podium finishes as the team ended the night in fifth place with 80 points.
Senior Ava Kennedy was the Eagles' top performer on the first day of competition as she dropped a 22.66 to finish as the national runner-up in the 50 Freestyle. Kennedy's first-ever podium finish as member of the Eagles highlighted four Emory caps in the event.
Prior to Kennedy winning silver in the 50, graduate student Penelope Helm led off the evening with a third place effort in the 500 Freestyle. Helm shaved two seconds off her morning swim to touch at 4:51.02 to give her a third straight top-three finish in the event.
Freshman standouts Allison Greeneway and Caitlin Crysel rounded out the top individual performances on Wednesday as they claimed the top two places in the consolation final of the 200 IM. Greeneway took ninth at 2:01.85 with Crysel coming in right behind her at 2:02.00.
Elsewhere, junior Meredith Liu and freshman Elodie Mitchell scored points for the Eagles as the duo finished 13th and 14th in the consolation final of the 500 Freestyle. Liu posted a time of 4:55.09 with Mitchell turning in a 4:55.47.
Night one concluded with the 400 Medley Relay as Greeneway and Crysel teamed with graduate student Megan Jungers and sophomore Katie Cohen for a seventh place finish while recording a time of 3:42.27.
At the end of one day of events, Emory stands behind first place Kenyon University by just 24 points.
The NCAA Championships continue Thursday with a slate featuring the 400 IM, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay and women's 1-meter diving. Prelims get underway at 10:00 AM with the finals to follow at 6:00 PM.
