SAN ANTONIO – The Tiger Invite has begun with an amazing start for the 20th-ranked women. Right off the bat on Day 1 of 3 our women showed up and showed out with some awesome racing from start to finish, winning every event and having a range of 2-6 competitors representing in each A final. 

Some standout performances come from first-years Ava Easley (Allen, Texas / Lovejoy) and Juliet Hood (Wexford, Pa. / North Allegheny) where Easley set a new school record in the 100 back with a time of 56.59 and Hood's score on the 1 meter diving board earned her a NCAA regionals cut that could line her up to compete to qualify for the 2026 Nationals meet. 

"The women put together a very solid day one," said Head Coach Cathleen Pruden. We were thrilled to see Juliet secure an NCAA Regional cut on the one-meter board this afternoon. There were some nice lifetime bests sprinkled in there as well as a ton of season best times. Tomorrow is a stronger day for most of these women and I'm eager to see great racing continue."

Joining Easley in the 400 medley relay where she got her school record were senior captain Neely Burns (Phoenix, Ariz. / Thunderbird), and juniors Allison Ortiz (Houston, Texas / Stratford), and Amy Benson (Newmarket, N.H. / Phillips Exeter Academy) in the 400 Medley where they placed first with a time of 3:52.78 placing them at number 9 in the Trinity's top 10 times list. 

The first individual win of the evening came from senior Audrey Jacobson (Dallas, Texas / School for the Talent and Gifted) who won the 500 free with a time of 5:08.92, almost a full 10 seconds ahead of second place. Joining her in the A final was senior Erin Morie (St. Louis, Mo. / Cor Jesu Academy) who placed 7th with a time of 5:26.51. 

Burns also got her 200 IM Nationals cut with a time of 2:04.47 winning the event, joined by first-years Kaya Alvegaard-Struble (Kansas City, Mo. / Pembroke Hill) who got second and Kaitlyn Phan (Austin, Texas / Westlake) who got third. 

The 50 freestyle was the last individual event of the evening, which is always a close race because of how fast it is. Benson took first place with a time of 23.74, which is a season best for her. She was joined by Easley who got 3rd with a time of 24.25, a lifetime best, and followed very closely by Ortiz who got 4th with a time of 24.28. Senior Jules Wiehrdt (Waco, Texas / Midway) was also able to sneak into fifth place with a time of 24.56, Ortiz and Wierdt both went for season bests as well. 

For the 200 freestyle relay, Alvegaard-Struble, Ortiz, Easley, and Benson, the A-relay, took 1st place with a time of 1:36.73, ensuring a clean sweep across the evening for the women on opening night. 
Next up, stay tuned for the rest of the weekend as the women continue to show up and race before heading into Thanksgiving break.