The Rutgers swimming and diving team is hosting the first annual Rutgers Super Splash this weekend at the Sonny Werblin Aquatics Center, and both the men’s and women’s squads stand in first place at the end of the first day. The invitational will continue Saturday and Sunday.

For the women, freshman Madison Kennedy continued her stellar rookie campaign, achieving a NCAA “A” cut time in the 50 freestyle with a first-place time of 22.86. Also in the 50 free, Angelina Colavito was second (23.81), Sara Gault was fourth (24.37) and Kasey Kesses was fifth (24.41). Senior Kelly Harrigan gained NCAA “B” cut times in the 500 freestyle, where she finished first (4:51.02), and the 100 backstroke, leading the relay. Also in the 500 free, teammate Allyson Parent was second (4:54.52). In the 200 free relay, Rutgers was first in a time of 3:43.81. The team consisted of Harrigan, Allie Dean, Sarah Bicknell and Kennedy.

Dean racked up more point for Rutgers when she turned in a first-place showing in the 200 individual medley (2:04.98). The Scarlet Knights had the first and second place finishes in the 400 medley relay in times of 3:43.81 and 3:52.98, respectively. Heading into the second day, RU is currently in first place with 430 points, followed in second place by fellow BIG EAST member Villanova (381).

On the men’s side, Rutgers gained 355 points on the first day, led by the 200 free relay team of Andy Dilz, Bobby Daplyn, Adam Papendick and Eric Lane was finished first in a time of 1:23.93. In the 500 freestyle, three swimmers finished in the top six, led by Scott Thompson (second, 4:35.53), Daplyn (fourth, 4:37.60) and Jamie Miller (sixth, 4:38.64).

The 400 medley relay team of Zach Shimota, Dilz, Tyler Clark and Adam Papendick finished in second place (3:26.67), and Dilz and Clark contributed to the 200 IM with a second and fifth place showing, respectively. Papendick finished fifth in the 50 freestyle (21.31).

In the diving events, Erica Moreland was third in the one-meter dive (230 pts.), Meghan Senso was sixth, Jennifer Potvan was seventh and Sharon Fish was eighth. Artjorn Jangols was eighth in the one-meter on the men’s side.

“Our men really took a step forward today,” said head coach Chuck Warner. “With a little bit of rest we have many lifetime bests, showing how much will improve at season’s end.”