MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team turned in a strong showing Friday and Saturday at the First Chance Meet, posting three top-eight finishes at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

CSB's best relay performance came in the 400 medley, where the quartet of first-year Kelsey Gillman (Hutchinson, Minn.), sophomore Millie Pratt (Hopkins, Minn.), sophomore Autumn Larson (Baxter, Minn.) and sophomore Ava Niksich (Hermantown, Minn.) touched the wall in 4:31.21 to place sixth overall. The Bennies also placed seventh in the 400 free relay as Maddie Modjeski (Winona, Minn.), Niksich, Josey Jackson (Mandan, N.D.) and Pratt combined for a time of 3:54.69.

Individually, Modjeski led CSB with an eighth-place finish in the 500 freestyle, clocking 5:39.51, while Larson followed close behind in 10th at 5:42.53. Modjeski also recorded a season-best time of 1:02.99 in the 100 backstroke to finish 16th and added an 11th-place showing in the 200 backstroke (2:19.62).  

Jackson placed 12th in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:27.77. Niksich earned a 12th-place finish in the 200 backstroke at 2:23.35, while junior Emma Neely (Milaca, Minn.) placed 15th in the same event in 2:28.64. Neely also competed in the 500 freestyle, finishing 14th with a time of 6:05.51.

Next for CSB squad is the MIAC Championships which run from Feb. 11-14 in Minneapolis.