Women’s Swim and Dive Finishes Second at Gompei Invitational

Sunday, December 3

Worcester, MA

8:30 am / 12:00 pm / 5:00 pm

Sacred Heart

Gompei Invitational

Photo by: Greg Vasil

Women’s Swim and Dive Finishes Second at Gompei Invitational

12/3/2023 7:58:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Sophia Velleco breaks school record in the 200-yard backstroke

By: Brenna White

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Sacred Heart University women's swimming and diving team wrapped up a successful weekend at the Gompei Invitational Sunday. The Pioneers finished second at the event with 2,639 points, trailing Bryant in first. Olivia McNicholas won the three-meter dive and Sophia Velleco broke the school record in the 200-yard backstroke.

The Pioneers took to the pool for 1650-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard IM, 200-yard butterfly, 50-yard breaststroke and the 400-yard freestyle relay Sunday. The meet included three sessions – prelims, diving and finals. There were A, B, C and D finals – each with 10 lanes.

To start off the night, Velleco, placed fourth in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:38.32. This time broke the record book yet again for Velleco as she is now fourth all-time at SHU in the mile but also in the 1000-yard freestyle with her split.

Emma Haas paced the Pioneers in the 100-yard freestyle finishing fifth with a time of 53.08. Ella Krikorian finished 10th with a time of 54.26.

In the prelims, Velleco broke the SHU school record in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:04.02. Velleco finished fourth in finals with a time of 2:06.29. Meghan Hammarlund also earned a spot in the record book at fourth, finishing fourth, with a time of 2:06.17.

Emma McCall took the pool for the non-traditional 100-yard IM finishing sixth with a time of 1:02.92.

Abby Hernandez led the Pioneers with a second-place showing in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:07.23. She is now fifth all-time at SHU. Melanie Sanchez finished sixth (2:09.79) and Emma Chambers seventh (2:09.89).

Rosemery Nieto paced the Pioneers in the 50-yard breaststroke in second place with a time of 29.59.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay, McCall, Christina Caminiti, Emma Davis and Sanchez finished fourth with a time of 3:35.57.

McNicholas picked up the win on the three-meter board with a score of 436.40. Lola Barrett placed third (421.30) and Natalie Carbone took sixth (392.95).

Up Next:
The Pioneers will next travel to Florida for the CSCAA National Open Water Championships hosted by Florida International University on December 17^th at 10:00 a.m.