ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College women's swimming and diving team capped off a dominant performance at the 14th Annual Bomber Invitational, securing the team title on Saturday inside Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium with a commanding total of 2,307 points. The Bombers outpaced the University of Rochester (2,037.5) and Smith College (1,135) to claim the championship on the final day of competition.
 
On the third day, the Bombers showcased their depth and endurance, highlighted by strong swims in distance events. Mya Barbatsoulis placed third in the grueling 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 18:18.82, while Paige Simon placed fourth touching at 18:20.86 and Erika Doran was seventh with a time of 18:37.73. Dana Hans (18:49.67), and Abby Pecze (18:53.21) added valuable points.
 
In the 200-yard backstroke, junior Samantha Bender captured the event title with a time of 2:05.44, while first year Ainsley Lappas-Ford placed fourth (2:09.26). Sophomore Sydney Koehler delivered a standout performance, winning the event in 2:20.36. Ithaca also scored in the B-final with Maggie Taplin (2:40.11).

In the 100 freestyle, Charlotte Barton was the top IC finisher touching at 52.82 as Rochester's Morgan Edstrom paced the field with a finals time of 52.38.
 
Elizabeth Bodie took home a second-place result in the 200-yard butterfly with a finals time of 2:08.15, shaving over two seconds from her morning prelim time. Kathleen Papiernik finished fifth (2:10.17) as Emily Eichinger added points from the B-final.
 
The women's relay teams maintained their dominance, with the 400-yard freestyle relay winning in 3:30.27, anchored by Elke Beaumont, Charlotte Barton, Emma Kidd and Samantha Bender. Diving also contributed significantly, with Madison Morris winning the 3-meter event with a final performance score of 454.85 and just behind her in second was Eliza Salus who recorded a finals score of 439.85.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ithaca Swimming and Diving (@ithacaswimdive)

 
Next up, Ithaca College will head south for their winter training trip in Florida. The program will then be off before returning to action on Saturday, January 17 where they will square off against Hamilton College in a home dual at 1 p.m.