KEENE, N.H. - The Norwich University women's swimming & diving team opened the 2025-26 season in impressive fashion on Saturday afternoon, turning in a series of standout performances at the Keene State Sprint Pentathlon.

The unique meet format featured five sprint-distance events, including the 50-yard butterfly, 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle, and 100-yard IM, with each swimmer's times combined into a cumulative total to determine overall rankings.  The afternoon also included 200-yard medley and freestyle relays, along with competition on the 1-meter diving board.

Freshman Delaney Allen (Gibsonia, Pa.) shined in her collegiate debut at the pentathlon, assembling a total time of 3:07.82 across the five individual events to place fourth overall.  She trailed only a pair of University of New England swimmers and a Gordon College competitor in the 50-plus athlete field.

Freshman Burgan Danger (Wadsworth, Ohio) and junior Kylie Farris (Leander, Texas) followed closely behind, finishing 12th and 15th, respectively, with totals of 3:24.66 and 3:27.01.  Junior Anna Gosselin (Lisbon, Conn.) and freshman Ashley Morin (Dracut, Mass.) also cracked the top 20, placing 18th and 19th with near-identical totals of 3:28.12 and 3:28.46.

In relay action, the Cadets opened the meet with a strong third-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay.  The quartet of Danger, Vivian Buntin (Middlebury, Conn.), Maria Piekarczyk (Dudley, Mass.), and Allen clocked a 2:04.13 to finish just behind Gordon College and Keene State.  In the final women's event of the day, the 200-yard freestyle relay, Danger, Katelyn Daly (Pensacola, Fla.), Deanna Parot (San Diego, Calif.), and Allen teamed up for another third-place showing, posting a time of 1:50.65.

On the boards, senior Reilly Laitala (Sterling, Mass.) picked up right where she left off last season, winning the 1-meter diving competition with a meet-best score of 215.65.

WOMEN'S LEADERS:

• Freshman Delaney Allen (Gibsonia, Pa.)
  • 4th, 3:07.82
• Freshman Burgan Danger (Wadsworth, Ohio)
  • 12th, 3:24.66
• Junior Kylie Farris (Leander, Texas)
  • 15th, 3:27.01
• Junior Anna Gosselin (Lisbon, Conn.)
  • 18th, 3:28.12
• Freshman Ashley Morin (Dracut, Mass.)
  • 19th, 3:28.46
• Freshman Katelyn Daly (Pensacola, Fla.)
  • 27th, 3:30.42
• Sophomore Vivian Buntin (Middlebury, Conn.)
  • 41st, 3:43.97

Norwich will return to the pool on Saturday, Oct. 25, for its home opener against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Regis College at 11:00 a.m. at Goodyear Pool.  The meet kicks off a three-meet homestand for the Cadets, who will also host Husson University on Nov. 1 and Maine Maritime Academy on Nov. 8.