Delta State women’s swimmers collect multiple victories at Magnolia Invite

Delta State’s women’s swimming and diving team collected multiple event victories and top finishes Friday at the 2026 Magnolia Invite at the Ronald G. Mayers Aquatics Center in Cleveland, Mississippi. The Lady Statesmen opened the meet by winning the 200-yard medley relay in 1:45.56. The victorious team included Nicolette Wight, Chloe Skelt, Kennedy Cleasant and Olivia Murphy. Delta State’s B relay finished second in 1:51.87.

Rhianna Foster won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:39.17, with teammate Stella Newton taking second in 11:13.61. Murphy also won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:56.88.

Wight won both the 100-yard backstroke, in 58.96, and the 200-yard backstroke, in 2:11.03. Cleasant finished second in the 100-yard backstroke in 59.64, while Mazie Finch placed fifth in 1:04.30.

Skelt earned victories in the 100-yard breaststroke, in 1:06.25, and the 50-yard freestyle, in 25.72. Hanna Persson was second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:07.06. Foster won the 100-yard freestyle in 55.34, while Ella Berg placed fifth in 57.41.

Persson led a Delta State one-two finish in the 200-yard breaststroke, winning in 2:26.53 ahead of Audrey Lemoine, who finished in 2:29.76. Kelsey Murphy won the 500-yard freestyle in 5:28.45. Cleasant won the 100-yard butterfly in 58.23, and Berg finished second in 1:00.51.

Lemoine won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:14.65, while Newton finished third in 2:21.10. Delta State closed the meet with a 200-yard freestyle relay victory in 1:40.06, with Cleasant, Finch, Wight and Murphy finishing ahead of William Carey.

Delta State will continue the 2026-27 season on the road next Saturday, Oct. 3, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

Source: Delta State Athletics.