University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Lengthen League Record With Fifth-Straight Atlantic 10 Conference Championship
02/19/2006 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 19, 2006
Complete Results
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sophomore Jessica Witt, freshman Lauren Beaudreau and head coach Matt Barany all earned individual honors after the Richmond Swimming and Diving team extended an Atlantic 10 record with its fifth-straight A-10 Championship Saturday, Feb. 18, at Flickinger Athletic Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Witt became the fourth-straight Spider swimmer to be named Most Outstanding Performer. Beaudreau was named the fifth-straight Most Outstanding Rookie Performer from Richmond. Barany, who earned his first Conference Championship as a collegiate coach, was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, extending the Spiders streak to five-straight in the category.
The Spiders finished with a total of 747 points, 272 ahead of second-place St. Bonaventure which finished with 475 points. Although Richmond's 747 points is the lowest winning total over the past five seasons, only two winning margins have been larger than its 272 from this season.
"I am so proud of this team and what they accomplished from day one of the season," Barany said. "Jessica (Witt) and Lauren (Beaudreau) deserve those awards for their contributions to this team and what the entire squad accomplished. Both of them can get so much better."
Witt and junior Caitlin Geary began Saturday's evening session with the 1650 free event. The combo finished 1-2 in the event after both recording NCAA B-cut times. Witt's 16:49.13 is a new school record, while Geary's 16:50.70 marks a new third-best time in school history.
Witt and Geary each garnered school records in the 1000 free on their way out in the 1650 free race. Witt logged a 10:10.37 at the 1000 yard mark, while Geary had a 10:10.77. Both broke the old Spider mark of 10:11.43 set by Holly Hinds in 2004.
Junior Kara Swift and freshmen Cara Smaniotto and Brie McDowell each qualified for the 200 back final and finished second, fourth and seventh, respectively. Swift logged a 2:05.30, while Smaniotto's 2:06.67 and McDowell's 2:06.28 were two seconds better than their previous top times this season.
Junior Emily Bateman and freshman CJ Pisano garnered 29 points for the Spiders in the 100 free final. Bateman finished with a 52.63, while Pisano logged a 52.91.
Beaudreau, who crushed both the Richmond and Atlantic 10 mark in the 200 breast prelims with a 2:15.90, bettered each with a 2:15.62 in the evening's finals. Beaudreau's record time was three seconds better than Mary Adams' A-10 mark of 2:18.66 and two seconds faster than Adams' Richmond mark of 2:17.78. The Atlantic 10 record now marks three turned in by Beaudreau in the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championships including the 100 breast and 200 IM. Not only did Beaudreau finish tops in the event, but the Spiders had three others in the same final including junior Alicia Crossman (2:21.56, 4th), sophomore Andrea Denney (2:22.17, 6th) and sophomore Anastasia Lau (2:23.31, 7th).
Senior Anne Kirchner turned in a lifetime best of 2:04.97 in the 200 fly prelims this morning then finished second in the finals to garner 17 points for the Spiders. Sophomore Erin Barry logged six more points for the Spiders by logging a 169.45 in the three-meter diving prelims.
Richmond's 400 free relay finished the event off with a second-place finish and a time of 3:30.32. Pisano logged a 52.64 in the lead-off leg, while Bateman turned in a season-best 52.60 split in the second leg. Beaudreau went 52.66 in the third leg, and Witt wrapped it up with a season-best split of 52.42.
"The fact Richmond keeps winning the individual honors is a tradition now," Barany said. "It is one that transcends the coaching and the athletes who swim here. It is a testament to the program and the department and its belief in the swim program."
Following this afternoon's prelims, Richmond swimmers took part in time trials in the 200 back, 50 free and 100 free. Witt logged a 2:01.93 in the 200 back which ranks second all-time for the Spiders, just .13 off the school record held by Adams. Pisano bettered her 50 free mark with a 24.02, which puts her in a tie for fifth-fastest with Maureen Sabri. McDowell went 53.58 in the 100 free, just off her season-best of 53.27.
In the team standings, UMass follows the Bonnies in third with a 467 total, while Duquesne sits in fourth with 417 points. Xavier (380) Saint Louis (322), Fordham (316), George Washington (226), La Salle (169) and Rhode Island (132) round out the final six squads in the standings.
"We graduate two women from this program who are two of the finest we have ever coached," Barany said. "They are two individuals who deserve the title. The contributions Anne (Kirchner) and Megan (Benner) have made to the this program and us as coaches is immeasurable. We truly appreciate all they have done for Spider swimming."
This year's senior class of Kirchner and Megan Benner will leave Richmond with a record four-straight Atlantic 10 Championships, all of which have come with an average winning margin of 300.4 points. Witt, Beaudreau and Geary, who posted her first-ever NCAA B-cut time, will now await the March 1 selection date to learn whether they will be heading to the 2006 NCAA Championships, March 16-18, in Athens, Ga.
