SYRACUSE, NY -- Alfred University is in 10th place after Thursday’s first day of competition at the New York State women’s swimming and diving championships.

AU is among 17 teams competing at the championships, which are being held through Saturday, Feb. 20, at Nottingham High School in Syracuse. Alfred finished Thursday’s action with 96 points; Ithaca leads with 448 points.

Junior Sarah Blair (Auburn, NY/Auburn) led the AU women Thursday, taking fifth in the 50-yard freestyle in 24.49 seconds. Blair also teamed with senior Meghan Jones (Beaver Falls, NY/Beaver River), junior Cailin Asmo (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) and freshman Eryn Matich (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) to take 14th in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:46.36).

Matich placed 24th in the 200-yard individual medley (2:22.41) and freshman Kylie Smith (Abington, PA/Abington) was 11th in one-meter diving (337.30 points). Sophomore Donna Hoops (Geneseo, NY/Geneseo), freshman Katie Ganley (Syracuse, NY/Westhill), Matich and freshman Shelby Remington (Gainesville, NY/Letchworth) placed 13th in the 400-yard medley relay (4:30.12).

The championships continue Friday with the 200-yard medley relay, 400-yard IM, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, 100-yard backstroke, and 800-yard freestyle relay.