WORCESTER, Mass. – Wellesley College swimming & diving started the NEWMAC Championships in sixth place after the opening night. The four-day event is being held at WPI.

The only Women's championships race on Thursday evening was the 800m Free Relay. MIT won both the "A" and "B" races to lead all teams with 70 points after night one.

Wellesley's team of senior Cecilia Cai (Palo Alto, Calif.), first year Lily Fender (Burnsville, N.C.), sophomore Chloe Weingarten (Rochester, Minn.) and junior Emily Richardson (Bedford, N.H.) came in fifth out of 10 teams in the "A" final with a final time of 7:56.20. 

Junior Julia Reich (Bronxville, N.Y.), sophomore Chelsea Park (Long Beach, Calif.), junior Leah Butler (Eugene, Ore.) and first year Grace Hu (Andover, Mass.) teamed up to put together an 8:31.68 performance in the "B" final to collect eighth place.

Competition continues tomorrow, with prelims beginning at 10:00 AM.