WEBSTER, NY -- The Alfred University women's swimming & diving team started the first of four days of competition Wednesday at the Empire 8 Championships.

"This opening session was one of the best we've ever had," Head Coach Brian Striker '00 said. "Almost all had best times each time they swam, which is pretty amazing."

In her final week of competition, Sarah Anderson (Radnor, PA/Radnor) made A-Final of the 50-yard freestyle, where she came home sixth with a time of 24.49. She'd also be on the podium with Elizabeth Share (Macedon, NY/Palmyra-Macedon), Isobel Anderegg (Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro Area), and Maureen Derry (Asheville, NC/Asheville) in the 400-yard medley relay, placing fifth. 

Anderegg was also in the B-Final in the 200-yard IM, where she clocked in with a time of 2:23.50, just behind Derry in the same event, where she finished with a 2:18.64. Eden Vallely (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) was the third member of AU Swimming & Diving to compete in the same event, where she came home with a 2:26.83.

Alexandra Simmons (Danbury, CT/Danbury) was the other Saxon to race in the evening finals, competing in the 500-yard freestyle. She wrapped up a 5:38.28 to complete the first day at the Webster Aquatic Center. 

As of the publishing of this release, day two of action starts shortly at 10:00 a.m., with the finals getting underway at 5:30 p.m.