Burgess guides UNE to second-place showing at BSU Invitational

Recap, photo courtesy of UNE

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Kayla Burgess won four times in four individual swims as the University of New England placed second out of six institutions in the Bridgewater State University Invitational on Saturday (Dec. 2) at Moriarty Pool.

The host Bears took the team title with 578 points, besting the Nor'easters by 53 (525). Western New England University was third all the way back at 270 points.

Burgess claimed the 400 individual medley (4:54.00), 200 butterfly (2:16.12), 500 freestyle (5:34.92), and 100 butterfly (1:00.04). No result was closer than 4.44 seconds, and her four combined to 28.53 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor.

Taryn Leach and MiKayla Sargent added wins for UNE, in front of teammates in the second position. Leach touched first in the 50 backstroke (29.79), just 0.69 before McKenna Riley. Sargent's 100 breaststroke (1:13.73) was 1.03 ahead of Faith Belleavoine.

Riley was second in two other events -- the 100 backstroke (1:04.98) and 100 freestyle (58.93). More runner-up points were collected by Sargent in the 200 breaststroke (2:43.27), Belleavoine in the 50 breaststroke (34.83; -0.07), and Nicole Robitaille in the 200 butterfly.

The Nor'easters will now rest until a January 13 visit to Roger Williams University.