Hampton, Va. – The Duquesne University swimming and diving team opened competition at the Richmond Duals in dominant fashion on Friday evening inside the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex.

The Dukes opened competition in dominant fashion, earning 800.50 points and 17 medals on the first day to take the top spot in the standings. Host Richmond sits second with 638 points, followed by Davidson (559) and George Mason (404.50).

Sophomore Ashley Freel led the way for Duquesne, capturing three gold medals on Friday. She claimed her first victory in the 400 IM with a time of 4:24.20, then added another gold in the 50-yard backstroke at 26.30. Freel completed her sweep with a first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly, clocking in at 2:05.10. She also helped the Dukes' 200-yard freestyle relay to a runner-up finish with a time of 1:36.44, joining freshman Lucy Backus, senior Katie Simpson, and sophomore Rachel Howard.

Backus turned in a standout performance, collecting two gold medals on the day. She anchored the Dukes' 400-yard medley relay team, alongside sophomore Sierra Snow, senior Sydney Severini, and sophomore Rachel Howard, to a first-place finish in 3:48.41. Backus continued her strong showing in the individual events, winning the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.58 and adding another gold in the 100-yard freestyle at 52.13.

Snow also delivered an impressive outing, earning four medals on Friday. After leading off the gold-medal 400-yard medley relay, she captured her first individual gold in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:00.82. Snow followed with another first-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle at 5:05.28 and capped her night with a silver medal in the 200-yard freestyle, clocking in at 1:53.89.

Junior Lexi Sundgren earned a gold medal in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:55.15, while senior Sydney Severini claimed silver in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall at 2:21.83. Severini also added a bronze in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 30.17. In the 400 IM, sophomore Surrena Luna secured third place with a time of 4:34.19, and freshman Norah Kotnik earned bronze in the 200-yard backstroke at 2:03.36. Sophomore Jess Burns also reached the podium in the 200-yard breaststroke, placing third with a 2:21.90 finish, while classmate Rachel Howard rounded out the medal haul with a bronze in the 50-yard butterfly, clocking in at 25.65.\

UP NEXT
Duquesne concludes the Richmond Duals tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 18, when it battles the host Spiders in a head-to-head dual meet, beginning at 10:00 a.m.