BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb swimming team was back to Bost Pool for the first time in 2026 on Friday night to compete against Cumberlands and UNC Asheville, with both the GWU men and women scoring team victories against the former

With only the women's team competing against UNC Asheville, the Runnin' Bulldogs started with a victory in the women's 400-yard medley relay. Slawka Ndubuisi, Dakota Townley, Hannah Routh and Jenna Valentine posted a race-winning team of 3:55.16

Valentine was back in the pool as an individual in the women's-200 yard freestyle. The freshman was excellent in the field of six, finishing second place in 1:59.12 with a lightning fast 27.73 split, the fastest of anyone in the heat. Valentine also competed in the women's-200 yard butterfly, winning in 2:11.82

Ndubuisi returned to the pool for the women's 50-yard freestyle, where the Columbia, S.C. scored an individual victory. Ndubuisi recorded a time of 24.06 seconds, nearly a second and a half faster than second place, to win the heat. She'd also take first in the women's 100-yard freestyle in 53.17 seconds a little while later

Elsewhere for GWU, Townley scored a victory in the women's 200-yard breaststroke in 2:19.33, and Routh was second in the women's 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:12.86

On the men's side, Luke Weber and Santiago Alcantara went 1-2 in the men's 1000-yard freestyle. Weber won the event in 9:33.63, while Alcantara was just behind with a time of 9:45.50. Alcantara would go on to take first place in the men's 200 yard butterfly later in the day, recording a time of 1:53.20, just ahead of GWU teammate Alex Cook who posted 1:53.86 in second

Also top step of the podium for GWU were Victor Cury and Agustin Orechia. In the men's 200-yard backstroke, Orechia defeated all competitors in 1:55.21. Meanwhile in the men's 500-yard freestyle, Cury was victorious in 4:38.42. Weber was just behind for the Dawgs in 4:39, while Alcantara placed third in 4:49.28

Another strong event for the Gardner-Webb men was the men's 200-yard IM. Defending ASUN champion Justin Bender managed to tie for first place, recording a time of 1:57.08 with a 27.06 final split. Gardner-Webb would go 3-4-5 as well, with Jojo Frye (1:57.25), Dan Bennett (1:59.96) and Thomas Adam (2:03.84) in the event field