PRINCETON, N.J. — Senior Mary Ashby matched her school-record time of 22.80 to earn the bronze medal in the 50-yard freestyle, highlighting Columbia women's swimming and diving's second day at the 2019 Ivy League Championships on Thursday evening. As it stands, Columbia is in seventh place in the team standings with 206 points.
 
"We are very proud of the character and resilience our team showed after last night's relay disqualification," said Columbia head coach Diana Caskey. "We put ourselves in good position in the morning for a great first full day. We will continue to battle back to get in the mix."
 
Nine Lions qualified for finals performances on Thursday, including championship finals for junior Helen Wojdylo in the 200 IM and Ashby in the 50 free.
 
"Helen's 200 IM and Mary's 50 free were huge highlights, but the entire team raced well undeterred by loss of big points in the relay," added Caskey. "They are a special group."
 
After earning the top seed with an NCAA 'B' cut and personal-best time of 1:59.21 in prelims, Wojdylo made her way to the podium in the 200 IM after tying for fifth place in the event with a finals time of 2:00.18. Senior Jessica Antiles came out strong for Columbia in the 'C' final, winning the heat to place 17th overall at 2:02.56. Junior Julia Samson competed in the same heat, placing 22nd at 2:04.02.
 
Following her 22.99 performance in prelims, Ashby dropped .19 seconds in the 50 free final to match her Columbia record in the event which she set in her sophomore campaign in 2017. Making her first individual finals appearance, first-year Clare Larsen finished 22nd in the event with a time of 23.65.
 
Two Columbia divers made finals debuts, as first-years Briget Rosendahl and Michelle Lee each competed in the consolation final of 1-meter diving. Rosendahl placed 12th overall in the event with a score of 251.50 and Lee followed close behind, finishing 13th at 249.60.
 
"Really great day for our first-years," said diving coach Scott Donie. "They both put together two great lists of dives and I couldn't be prouder."
 
In the 500 free, two Lions qualified for the 'C' final. Junior Clare MacNamara was Columbia's top finisher in the event, placing 19th overall in 4:55.55 while first-year Mary Pruden placed 20th in 4:57.22 in her first Ivy League final.
 
Wrapping up Thursday's performances, Columbia's quartet of Ashby, sophomore Jessica He, Larsen and Antiles combined for a fifth-place showing in the 200 free relay, coming into the wall in 1:32.69.
 
The Lions dive back in on Friday for the third day of competition, with events including the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter diving and the 400 medley relay. All the action will be available live on ESPN+, with prelims beginning at 11 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
 
For the latest on the Columbia women's swimming and diving program, follow @CULadySwim on Twitter and Instagram, @ColumbiaDiving on Instagram and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.