ECU Enjoys Success At CSCAA National Invitational Championships

Thursday, March 13

Ocala, Fla.

All Day

East Carolina University

CSCAA NIC Championships

ECU Enjoys Success At CSCAA National Invitational Championships

March 19, 2025 | Women's Swimming and Diving

GREENVILLE, N.C. – For the second consecutive season, the East Carolina women's swimming team recorded a Top 20 finish at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships, which were held March 13-15 in Ocala, Fla.

Participating with less than a full line-up, Pirate swimmers Kaylee Hamblin, Carlie Clements, Elena Dinehart, Laura Lopez, Mikayla Durkin, Sara Kalawska, and Emilee Hamblin helped the squad to a 19th place finish out of 47 programs.

"I was pleased with how we swam in Ocala this past week," ECU Head Coach Matthew Jabs said. "We were able to take eight ladies and posted back-to-back Top 20 finishes. Trying to get fully ready to compete two and half weeks after coming off a successful and emotional AAC championships, while the rest of your team is on spring break was very difficult. So, it's definitely a learning process on how to refocus, compete, and keep perspective. I felt like we got better at those things as the week went on, and our results improved over last year. This was a positive end to the season."

Kaylee Hamblin, who completed her outstanding collegiate career, had a pair of A-Final appearances in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes and earned a spot in the B-Finals of the 200 breaststroke. She closed her career as a two-time Olympic Trial qualifier, three-time NCAA B qualifier, three-time All-American Athletic Conference performer, set two ECU records, collected 43 wins, earned 46 Top 3 performances, scored 400 regular season and 100 AAC Championship points during just two seasons with the program.

Dinehart posted a lifetime best time in the 100-backstroke ranking her seventh all-time at ECU and earned a spot in the B-Finals in the 200 backstroke. Clements also earned a spot in the B-Finals in the 100 backstroke.

The Pirates swam in four relays (200 freestyle, 200 medley, 400 medley, 800 yard freestyle) posting Top 20 times in each event.

"Kaylee had a remarkable career at East Carolina," Jabs said. "She will without question be one of the best ECU has had in the pool. The rest of the squad posted very solid times and contributed to all our relays finishing in the Top 20. I am excited about the future; members of this team continue to progress, and we are heading in a very positive direction."