Thursday's Finals Results and Team Scores

The IUP women used a series of top six finishes to take the opening day lead at the Pidgeon Invitational while the men are second behind only Wheeling Jesuit after the first day of competition at the John A. Pidgeon Natatorium.

The women compiled 311 points to take a 32-point lead over California. The men have 252.5 points and are 68.5 points behind Wheeling Jesuit.

Lauren Alshouse (Lancaster/Conestoga Valley) earned spots in the A finals in two events and swam a leg on the 200 freestyle relay team that finished third. She led a quartet of IUP swimmers in the 500 freestyle, finishing second in 5:14.51, and was also sixth in the 50 freestyle.

Allyson Mitidieri (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) and Ally Long (Frederick, MD/Frederick) were third and fourth, respectively, in the 500 freestyle while Christina Janosky (Dover, Pa. /Dover ) was sixth. Alshouse, Janosky, Ashley McAteer (Irwin/Penn-Trafford) and Nikki Newman (Meadville/Meadville) placed third in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:40.01, and the team of Mitidieri, McAteer, Jackie Hynson (King George, VA/King George) and Katie Lehman (Cary, NC/Green Hope) were third in the 400 medley relay in 4:02.07.

Hynson earned an NCAA B cut time in the 200 individual medley in 2:11.81, and McAteer was fourth in the 50 freestyle in 24.11.

The men were led by a second place finish in the 200 freestyle relay and a third place showing in the 400 medley relay. Walter Smith (Annandale, VA/Annandale), Doug McWhorter (Charlottesville, VA/Broadneck), Stephen Long and Dylan Mudlo (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) had a time of 1:27.17 in the 200 freestyle relay, and Smith, Long, Rudy da Costa (Durbin, South Africa/Westville) and Nate Stephens posted a time of 3:37.85 in the 400 medley relay.

McWhorter was third in the 50 freestyle in 22.06. Finishing fifth were Long in the 200 individual medley in 2:03.79 and David Donovan (Edinboro/General McLane) in the 500 freestyle in 5:01.23.

The three-day event continues Friday with prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m. Prior to the evening session, the dedication ceremony for the Pidgeon Natatorium will take place on the pool deck. Saturday's sessions are 9 a.m. for the prelims and 3 p.m. for the finals.