Returning All-American Elise Mason kicked off the 2024 NCAA DII Championships on Wednesday at the SPIRE Institute in Ohio with a bang for the Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team.
In her third trip to the national meet, the junior from Zeeland, Michigan broke her own school record in the 1,000 yd freestyle event while also recording her best-ever national meet finish at the distance.
Mason placed 22nd in the nation, finishing in 10:13.35 to edge out her school record in the event of 10:13.58 set last season as a sophomore.
It's a strong start to the five-day NCAA Championships for the nine-time G-MAC/MEC Champion in distance events, as Mason still has her signature event and the one where she earned All-American honors last season, the 1,650 freestyle, to come later in the week.
Mason will next compete on Friday in the 500 freestyle, and will be joined by teammate and fellow returning All-American Megan Clifford, who will compete in the 200 butterfly on the same night. On Saturday, Mason will close out the week for the Chargers by competing in the 1,650 freestyle.