LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Alyx Swope-Bell put an exclamation point on a tremendous season, winning the national title in the individual intermediate equitation over fences class on the opening day of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) National Championships on Thursday at the Kentucky Horse Park.
 
Swope-Bell becomes Drew's first national champion since James Fairclough C'09 won the Cacchione Cup in 2008. She was also Drew's first national qualifier since Claudia Payor C'19 placed 16th in the open equitation over fences class in 2017.
 
Riding atop Houdini, a horse donated to the IHSA National Championships by Centenary University, Swope-Bell scored an 83 in the opening round of competition, placing her second among 16 riders and just one point behind the overall leader. The show format brought the top four riders back to test, and Swope-Bell emerged as the champion.
 
Riders competing at nationals draw their mount by lot, and navigate a pre-determined course of jumps on an unfamiliar horse with no warm-up allowed.
 
Swope-Bell punched her to ticket to the IHSA National Championship by virtue of her victory at the IHSA Zone 3 Championships on April 8.
 
IHSA National Championships
Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences – Results
1. Alyx Swope-Bell, Drew University
2. Madison Aguilar, Savannah College of Art and Design
3. Keilty Archibald, Skidmore College
4. Clare O'Brien, Washington and Lee University
5. Benjamin Hoban, Centenary University
6. Mallory Francis, Hollins University
7. Marianna George, University of Findlay
8. Emma Eaton-ayres, University of Rhode Island
9. Corinne Jacoby, St. Lawrence University
10. Maegan Fitzgerald, University of Kentucky