GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  Western Colorado opened its five-day participation in the 2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship with a sixth place in the women's 800-yard freestyle relay on Tuesday night at El Pomar Natatorium.

The 'A' relay foursome of AvaMarie Hopewell, Grace Gardner, Sophia Del Rosario and Morgan Nielsen combined for a time of 7 minutes, 56.40 seconds to earn 30 sixth-place points.

Western earned 10 more points from a 'B' relay that placed 14th in 8:06.30. Madi Zach led off that really with a lifetime best for a 200 free, touching in 2:00.14. Sidney-Ann Morris, LynDea Turner and Amayah Warren followed Zach in the opening heat of the championship.

The Mountaineers' 40 points put them in fifth place in the team standings, just 8 behind Colorado School of Mines and Oklahoma Christian University which are tied for third place with 48 points.

Western is back at the pool Wednesday morning for the preliminary heats of the 200 individual medley and 50 free, as well as all but the fastest seeded heat of the 1,000 free, which will be swum in the evening's finals session.

Prelims begin at 10 a.m. and are followed by 1-meter diving prelims at 1 p.m. The finals session is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.