ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon Women's Swimming had a strong showing in a 139-123 defeat against Mary Washington in the home opener on Thursday night.
 
The Yellow Jackets started fast, winning the opening relay of the meet. RMC finished the 200 medley relay in 1:52.91 with a team of Kelsey James (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial), Sophia Hanson (Hamilton, Va./Woodgrove), Madi Reed (Stephens City, Va./Sherando), and Sophie Sullivan (Richmond, Va./Saint Catherine's). The time beat the Eagles' best relay team by over two seconds.
 
Kierra Parsons (Akron, Pa./Ephrata) took gold in the 1000 free by a wide margin, posting a time of 11:06.94, more than 22 seconds better than second place.
 
RMC was strong in the sprints, as Kelsey James and Reese Painter (Houston, Tex./Duchesne Academy of Sacred Heart) grabbed the top two spots in the 50 backstroke, finishing in 29.23 and 29.27, respectively. Sophia Hanson also finished first in the 50 breastroke in 31.97. Later in the meet, Sophie Sullivan won the 50 fly in 27.28.
 
James continued her excellent evening with a win in the 100 backstroke, finishing a second ahead of the next swimmer in 1:01.74.
 
To close out the meet, RMC won another relay, this time the 400 free. The team of Cayden Fix (Barboursville, Va./William Monroe), Kelsey James, Reese Painter, and Sophie Sullivan finished with a time of 3:44.77 to outlast the Eagles' top relay team.
 
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Friday, Oct. 25 for a 5:00 p.m. meet at St. Mary's (Md.)