PRINCETON, N.J. – The Rutgers women's swimming and team kicked day one of the Big Al Invitational hosted by Princeton with nine Scarlet Knights advancing to evening finals and Abigail Knapton capturing another 3M crown.

Altogether the Scarlet Knights logged 13 new season bests on the day that included the 50 and 500 free, 200 IM as well as the 200 free and 400 medley relays.  Ten bests were set during finals racing.
 

DIVING

• All four Scarlet Knight entries on 3M reached finals diving. Abigail Knapton won 3M for the sixth time this season scoring 321.70. Joining Knapton on the boards in the final were Savana Trueb, Holly Prasanto and Jenna Douglass.

SPRINTS

• Both Sofia Chichaikina and Sofia Lobova qualified for the A Finals in the 50 free. Chichiakina finished third and was .1 second off her PR hitting the wall in 22.80. Lobova was right behind in fourth in 22.91. Virginia Menicucci took part in Finals logging a time of 23.50 and taking 13^th overall. Eleonora Trentin, meanwhile, was the top finisher in C Finals in a time of 23.70.
• Three Scarlet Knights raced in the evening session of the 200 IM. Tina Celik qualified for the B Final of the 200 IM with a new collegiate PR of 2:06.31 to place 13^th overall. The C Final featured Katie Dougherty with a time of 2:08.67 and Simone Lusby in 2:09.47.

DISTANCE

• Two Scarlet Knights appeared in the C Finals of the 500 free. Cat Salladin took second in the C Final of the 500 free clocking in at 4:49.88 with Yael Weber finishing in a time of 5:08.82.

RELAYS

•  The 400 medley relay team posted its best result to date. Eleonora Trentin, Tina Celik, Beatriz Zoppeidossantos and Sofia Chichaikina comprised the quartet that finished seventh overall with a season-best 3:46.38.

UP NEXT

• Day two of the Big Al Invite includes 200 Medley Relay, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 1M Dive and 800 Free Relay.

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