MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – After two top six finishes in relays, the College of Saint Benedict Swim and Dive Team sits in fifth place at the MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships, which opened on Wednesday at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota.

The Bennies are fifth with its 54 points while Saint Catherine has the team points lead with 74 points.

In the 200-medley relay, the squad of senior Mads Slavik, freshman Megan Bartels, junior Lindsay Smutka and junior Emi Wagner clocked a season-best 1:49.48 for sixth place. The relay also had the sixth best 200 medley relay time in CSB school history.

The Bennies also placed fifth in the 800-meter relay in 8:06.78. The season-best mark included a relay of junior Laura Jennings, junior Hannah Tatge, freshman Lauren Sitzman and senior Molly Johanson.

As the meet moves forward, morning prelim sessions are set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The evening championship sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. For a complete schedule, click here. On Thursday morning, the events will include women's 3-M diving along with the 500 freestyle, 200 IM and 50 freestyle.

A year ago, CSB finished fifth with 430.5 points, the best total since 2011-12 with the finish its best mark since 2015-16. St. Catherine is the two-time defending MIAC champs, scoring 809 points at the 2022 championships.