WELLESLEY, Mass. (Nov. 6, 2010) – Led by sophomore Nora Cunningham, the Mount Holyoke College swimming and diving team kicked off its 2010-11 slate with a second place finish at the 14th annual Betty Spears Relays this afternoon.
Host Wellesley College won nine of the 15 events en route to the team title. The Blue finished with 282 points, while the second place Lyons amassed 158. Smith College (130) and Westfield State University (60) rounded out the field.
Cunningham figured in on all four Mount Holyoke victories. The Lyons also received a boost from first year Lauren Williams, who came out on top three times in her collegiate debut.
After teaming up with first year Sin Seanne Ng to post a winning time of 3:15.31 in the 300-yard backstroke relay, the duo collected top honors in the 500-yard freestyle crescendo with a time of 5:09.39. Their teammates for that race were sophomore Madeline Magee and first year Allison Burhoe.
Cunningham, Williams, Magee and junior Lydia Bowers joined forces for a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The quartet completed the race in 1:44.60.
Mount Holyoke's remaining victory came from Cunningham, Burhoe, Bowers and senior Michelle Kroll, who recorded a time of 1:53.49 in the 200-yard backstroke/freestyle relay.
In addition to their four first place finishes, the Lyons also touched the wall second three times.
Mount Holyoke will return to action next weekend at the Regis College Invitational. The competition will begin with diving events on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and conclude with swimming events on Saturday at noon.
