Wellesley Swim & Dive Enjoying Fun in the Sun; Takes 7th at FIU Sprint Invite

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. -- Wellesley College swimming & diving took seventh place at the Florida International University Sprint Invite on Saturday at the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center. The Blue were the second-highest finishing Division III institution at the cross-divisional event that featured over 430 student-athletes from 13 different programs.

The host Panthers finished first with 743.5 points, with Purdue University taking second with 666.5 points. Carnegie Mellon was the top Division III program, taking third (154). The Blue, who are enjoying the week in Florida as part of the team's annual out-of-region training trip,  finished seventh overall with 29 points as eight members of the Blue squad scored in the meet.

Sophomore Shelby Ripp (St. Louis, Mo.) earned nine points with a top-ten time in the 400 Free, taking ninth in 4:27.96. Classmate Alexandra Bullen-Smith (Lawrenceville, N.J.) was just two spots behind her teammate in 11th, earning the Blue six points with a time of 4:48.09.

First year Elizabeth Park (Dix Hills, N.Y.) finished 14th in the 50 Yard Breaststroke, earning three points with a time of 32.30, while sophomore Jessica Wegner (Taipei, Taiwan ) was 12th in the 100 Fly, earning the Blue five points with a time of 1:01.03.

Senior Danielle Peterson (Livingston, N.J.) also grabbed the Blue a point with a 16th place finish in the 100 breast (1:12.94), while Blue divers Lily Duff (Scituate, Mass. ) and Emma Roberts (Boxford, Mass.) earned five points, finishing 14th (183.20) and 15th (165.95), respectively, in 1-meter diving.

Wellesley will return home to host a pair of meets on Friday and Saturday, January 10-11, at Chandler Pool. Wellesley will welcome NEWMAC rivals Babson and Coast Guard on Friday at 1:00 PM and Smith College for Senior Day on Saturday at 1:00 PM.