WELLESLEY, Mass. - It was a solid start for the Mount Holyoke College swimming & diving team as the Lyons picked up three victories on day one of the 2016 Seven Sisters Championship. After the first day of action, MHC is third of the five teams with 453 total points. Host Wellesley College leads all teams with 835 points.

The Lyons opened the meet with a big victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The foursome of juniors Katie Tyler, Anne Kuenning, Emily Craig and senior Cathleen Pruden, posted a time of 1:40.60. Pruden followed that effort up with a record-setting performance in the 200-yard individual medley. She hit the wall with a time of 2:05.81, shattering her own Seven Sisters record of 2:09.33 - which she set in 2014.

First year Bri Groves also finished well in the 200-IM, placing sixth overall with a time of 2:17.78. Additionally, senior captain Sarah Crocker picked up valuable points in the same event, finishing 12th overall with a time of 2:26.93.

Tyler continued her strong effort in the 50-yard freestyle, placing runner-up with a time of 25.08. Kuenning was sixth with a time of 26.47, followed by Craig in seventh (26.48) and first year Kate Flaherty in 10th (26.65).

In the 400-yard medley relay, the group of Kuenning, Pruden, Groves and senior Erica Carvell were runner-up, posting a time of 4:08.71. The diving events saw senior Emily Ewen place 11th overall with a mark of 295.10 points.

The second session of the day opened with the Lyons 200-yard medley relay team place third overall. The group of Kuenning, Groves, Crocker and Tyler posted a time of 1:54.83.

Pruden rebounded with another victory, this time in her signature event - the 400-yard individual medley. She posted a time of 4:26.35 for her fourth straight Seven Sisters win in the event. Carvell also did well, placing ninth overall with a time of 5:08.85.

In the 100-yard butterfly, the Lyons took sixth-seventh-eighth as Groves (1:01.86), Tyler (1:03.12) and Crocker (1:05.20) picked up valuable points. Craig went on to finish ninth in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:06.02, while in the 100-yard breaststroke, Groves was third overall with a time of 1:11.54.

Kuenning rounded out the individual efforts on the day, placing fifth overall in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:03.07.

 In the final event of the day - the 800-yard freestyle relay - the Lyons saw the foursome of Craig, sophomore Claire Beckett, Crocker and Carvell finish sixth overall with a time of 8:46.71. The group of senior Emily Serio, sophomores Rachel Polfer and Amy Lim, along with first year Delany Berry was eighth with a time of 9:24.53. 

Additionally, the Lyons received a further honor at the Seven Sisters Championship banquet, held for all participating teams following the conclusion of day one action. Mount Holyoke's Pruden was honored as the 2016 Marly Pineda Award.

The award, which was established at the 2012 Championships, the Marly Pineda Seven Sisters Swimming & Diving Award is given to the swimmer or diver who, over the course of her career at the Seven Sisters Championships, best exemplifies the dedication, passion, selflessness, sportsmanship and spirit of a champion that defined Marly Pineda, a former Smith swimmer and coach who passed away in 2010.

Each honoree will also be known for her positive attitude, commitment toward making everyone around her feel welcomed and supported, and her "never ever" give up spirit. The award was also backdated, given to members of the classes of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 who had a chance to compete with and against Marly from each of the five schools.

Action at the Seven Sisters Championship concludes on Sunday, beginning at 9:30am with the 3-meter diving event. Swimming events kick-off at 12:15pm. For more information, including live video links, click HERE.