CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Wellesley College swimming & diving had a strong start on the opening night of the 2026 NEWMAC Championships at MIT's Zesiger Center Pool.

The 800 Free Relay opened the four-day meet. Wellesley's "A" final team of first-year Hannah Machleidt (Middleton, Wis.), sophomore Lily Fender (Burnsville, N.C.), and first-years Jolyn Zheng (Irvine, Calif.) and Alexis Kung (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) earned bronze amongst 10 teams with an impressive 7:49.74 time. 

In the event's "B" final, junior Chloe Weingarten (Rochester, Minn.), first-year Jessica Zhao (Beijing, China), senior Julia Reich (Bronxville, N.Y.) and first-year Adilene Dela Cruz (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) teamed up to come in seventh, by finishing the race at 8:13.28.

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