MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - The Bowdoin College women's swimming and diving team earned its best-ever finish at the NESCAC Championship this weekend, claiming fifth place overall.

On the heels of the program's best-ever finish at the conference championship, head coach Brad Burnham was named the NESCAC Women's Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year.

The Polar Bears racked up a program-best 932.5 points at the championship, trailing only Williams (2,103), Bates (1,345), Middlebury (1,203) and Amherst (1,042).

Bowdoin saved its best finish of the three-day event for last, as the 400 freestyle relay team of Mariah Rawding, Bridget Killian, Lela Garner and Sophia Walker took second place overall, shattering the school record in a time of 3:28.64.

Rawding led the way for the Polar Bears individually, earning three top-four finishes over the weekend. Her top race was the 200 breaststroke, where she earned third in a time of 2:20.52. She took fourth in both the 50 breaststroke (29.90) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.59), all establishing new school records.

Other top showings for the Polar Bears included a trio of fourth-place finishes, including Teri Faller in the 50 backstroke (26.92), Walker in the 50 free (24.12) and Caroline Watt in the 1650 free (17:18.20), each breaking previous school records.

In addition to the 400 relay free team, Bowdoin also had strong showings in the 200 free relay (4th, 1:36.85; Rawding, Killian, Patty Boyer and Walker) and the 400 medley relay (4th, 3:54.18; Faller, Rawding, Kate Kronick, Walker). Both also broke previous school records.

The Polar Bear men's team will have its turn at NESCAC's next weekend as they travel to Middlebury for the three-day competition beginning on Friday.