Sophomore Sydney Thompson achieved All-America honors in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division III Championships, marking her first All-America finish and Amherst College's best result in the event since 2005. With a preliminary time of 23.19 seconds and a final time of 23.20 seconds, she placed 12th overall, contributing five crucial points to the team, which is competing in its 38th consecutive championship. The Mammoths currently sit in 21st place, while NYU leads with 121 points after four events. Junior Paige Arnold also fared well, finishing 19th in the 200-yard individual medley, and first-year Ava Insteness set a personal best in the 500-yard freestyle.

By the Numbers
  • Thompson's time of 23.19 seconds in the prelims was a personal best.
  • A total of five points were earned by Thompson's finish, contributing to Amherst's consecutive scoring streak at the championships.
State of Play
  • Amherst College is currently in 21st place at the championships.
  • The Mammoths are competing against 20 other teams, with the next events scheduled for Thursday.
What's Next

In the upcoming events, Thompson, Insteness, and first-year Penny Lazar are set to participate in the 200-yard freestyle, while Arnold and junior Maeve Kelley will compete in the 100-yard butterfly. The Mammoths also look to maintain their strong performance in diving events with senior Donna Zhang and first-year Brooke Ronan participating.

Bottom Line

Sydney Thompson's success sets a positive tone for Amherst's performance at the championships, highlighting the team's potential as they advance through the next stages of competition.