AE Championship File 400 Relay Leads Swim ‘Cats to Second-Place End

LEXINGTON, Va. – The UNH girls’s swimming & diving staff closed the 2026 America East Championships in second place courtesy of a standout remaining day on the VMI Aquatic Center, highlighted by three prime‑eight finishes within the 1650 freestyle, a number of podium performances from senior captain Audrey Mahoney (Downers Grove, Ill.), and a college‑ and America East- file swim within the 400 freestyle relay.

Team Standings – Final
1. Bryant – 775
2. UNH – 660
3. Vermont – 613
4. UMBC – 446
5. Binghamton – 403
6. Maine – 314
7. VMI – 159

Sophomore Lydia Hart (Cornwall, Ontario) accomplished a dominant championship weekend by capturing the 1650 freestyle title, marking her third particular person America East championship after earlier victories within the 200 and 500 freestyle. Hart’s win anchored one other sturdy distance displaying for the Wildcats, as sophomore Marisa White (Apex, N.C.) positioned fifth and senior captain Carolyn Nelson (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) completed eighth, giving UNH three prime‑eight finishers within the occasion.

Hart completed the meet with three particular person podiums and contributions to 2 relay championships, one of many prime all‑round performances of the weekend.

Mahoney obtained the David Alexander Coaches Award for scoring essentially the most profession America East Championship factors amongst all championship rivals who exhausted their eligibility. She added to her championship résumé on Saturday, incomes silver within the 200 freestyle and bronze as a part of the 400 medley relay to enhance her earlier podiums within the 50 and 100 freestyle. The Downers Grove, Ill., native later delivered one of many night time’s standout swims by main off the 400 freestyle relay in 49.53, one of many quickest opening splits in program historical past and a big issue within the record-setting efficiency.

The Wildcats’ relay of Mahoney, Hart, sophomore Teagen Jeffers (Bedford, N.H.) and junior Sydney Leblic (Madrid, Spain) powered to a championship‑successful 3:21.08, breaking the America East meet, convention and UNH information.
Junior captain Grace Mahon (Orange, Conn.) completed third within the 200 Fly, incomes all-conference honors. Sophomore Maddie Serfass (Hershey, Pa.) registered a seventh-place end within the A-final.

In the 200 breast, junior Emily Loren Wright (Ventura, Calif.) recorded a fifth-place end result and sophomore Lily Jackson-Oates (Redhill, England) completed eighth.

Leblic joined Mahoney within the 100 free A-final and positioned eighth.

The Wildcats added helpful depth within the 200 backstroke, led by junior Izzie Campion (Auckland, New Zealand), who positioned sixth within the A‑remaining, freshman Kelsey Mayers (Waxhaw, N.C.), who scored within the B‑remaining, and Labno, who added additional factors along with her B‑remaining efficiency. The occasion contributed vital late-session scoring as UNH maintained its staff place.

Across the ultimate day of competitors, UNH collected:
• 1 America East particular person champion (Hart — 1650 freestyle)
• Multiple podium finishes from Mahoney
• A faculty-record relay efficiency
• Three prime‑eight finishers within the 1650 free
• A‑ and B‑remaining scoring within the 200 backstroke