Women's Swimming | 1/15/2026 10:00:00 AM
January 16 | Virginia Military Institute and Howard University | Lexington, VA | | VMI Aquatic Center
THIS WEEKEND'S MEET:
After returning from a winter training trip to Saint Petersburg, Florida, the Saint Francis Red Flash are ready to race. The team swam strong throughout the trip, using the training and racing experience to prepare for the remainder of the season. The Red Flash now shift their focus to competition as they get set to face Virginia Military Institute and Howard University on Friday, January 16.
OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE:
Both Virginia Military Institute and Howard University enter the meet after a season focused on growth, consistency, and strong individual performances. VMI has used early competition to build depth across events, while Howard—an important Northeast Conference (NEC) opponent for the Red Flash—has emphasized continued development and race execution throughout the season, adding extra significance to Friday's matchup.
REWIND: LAST YEAR AGAINST HOWARD AND VMI:
Last season's meet against Howard and VMI came down to a tight score, with the teams battling back and forth throughout the afternoon. Sara Turner had one of the top swims of the day for the Red Flash, placing second in the 200-yard butterfly and contributing on relays. Katie Webster delivered steady swims in the 200 and 100 freestyle, while Taylor Weth and Abby King picked up key points in the breaststroke events. Maura Rubio added depth with strong performances in the backstroke and sprint freestyle races, helping keep the meet close from start to finish.
PREVIOUS ACTION:
The Red Flash traveled to Saint Petersburg, Florida to compete at the Saint Pete Relay Invite, where the focus was on fast racing and team chemistry through a full slate of relays. Saint Francis put together strong showings across the board, highlighted by solid swims from Sara Turner, Katie Webster, Taylor Weth, Abby King, and Maura Rubio, who all contributed to key relay efforts. The meet gave the team valuable race reps, sharp exchanges, and a chance to compete in a high-energy environment while building momentum heading back into the dual-meet season.
UP NEXT:
The Red Flash will travel to Pittsburgh next weekend to compete at the Western PA Invite, marking the team's final racing opportunity before the NEC Championships. The meet will also serve as a preview of the future, with many of the programs in attendance set to become regular opponents next season as Saint Francis joins the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
GUIDING THE FLASH:
Assistant coach Carrie Robinson is in her first season with the Red Flash, working alongside head coach Phil Hurley as the program continues to build in both training and performance. Robinson arrives at Saint Francis following a successful two-year run at St. Lawrence University, where she played a key role in developing swimmers who posted personal-best times, earned conference finalist finishes, and set program records. A former collegiate swimmer and team captain at Hiram College, she brings experience coaching and racing across multiple strokes.
Hurley enters his sixth season at the helm of the Red Flash with more than 15 years of collegiate coaching experience. His tenure has been marked by NEC podium finishes, strong performances at invitational meets, and consistent academic achievement.
Together, Hurley and Robinson provide steady leadership on deck as Saint Francis continues to build momentum throughout the season.
