Kearney, Neb. – Junior Maggie Waddington broke her own school-record in the 50-freestyle to pace Nebraska Kearney at the RMAC Championships Thursday in Grand Junction, Colo.

The four-day meet began in earnest Wednesday and runs until Saturday night. UNK currently has scored 148 points to sit sixth out of nine programs. Colorado Mesa leads, Simon Fraser (Canada) is well behind in second with the Lopers ahead of Texas-Permian Basin, Colorado State-Pueblo and Adams State. 

Waddington (Norfolk) first swam a 23.79 in prelims and then went 23.54 to place fifth overall and score 25 team points. That bests the 24.10 effort she swam back in December and places her on the NCAA list as well. Kansas freshman Kayla Milligan was just one spot from reaching finals with the fifth best time (24.94) in Aqualoper history. 

Next, UNK picked up 53 points by finishing ninth through 11th on the 1-meter board led by Springfield freshman Elizabeth Welsh (279.60). To end the night, Waddington swam anchor on the 200-medley relay team (1:49.02) that came in seventh to score 28 points. The time is just off the school-record of 1:48.67 recorded at this meet in 2023. The squad also featured Milligan and Wyoming freshman Jasea Whitesell and Kansas junior Gabby Grace. Finally, Whitesell led the team in the 200 I.M. (32nd/converted 2:24.27) with Oklahoma junior Miriam Finch (converted 11:40.83) and Omaha freshman Josey Fink (converted 11:44.72) 30th and 31st, respectively, in the 1,000 free.

Action resumes Thursday morning with prelims.