University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Atlantic 10 Championships
Spiders Break Two School And A-10 Records En Route To Second Place Finish On Day One At A-10 Championships
02/22/2007 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 22, 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Richmond Swimming and Diving squad, winners of the last five Atlantic 10 Championships, broke two school and A-10 records en route to a second place finish on day one of the 2007 A-10 Championships held at Flickinger Athletic Center on the campus of Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y. Following record-breaking performances in the 200 medley and 800 free relays, Richmond ended the night with 89 points, behind Massachusetts' 126.
A youthful 200 medley relay team garnered the Spiders first win of the championships with a Richmond and A-10 record breaking 1:43.49. Freshman Alex Helland opened the relay with a 50 back lead-off time of 26.99. Sophomore Lauren Beaudreau, last year's A-10 Rookie of the Year, followed with a season-best 28.11 in the breast portion, while freshmen Katie Sieben logged a season-best 24.47 in the third leg (fly), and C.J. Pisano finished off the event with a 23.92 in the free, a personal best for the sophomore.
The Spiders then took a first place finish in the 800 free relay with another school and A-10 record time, 7:28.19, topping the UMass Minutewomen by over 10 seconds.
Senior Caitlin Geary opened the relay with a 1:52.29, while Beaudreau logged in the fourth-best 200 free time in school history (1:51.48). Junior Jessica Witt, last year's Most Outstanding Performer, turned in the third-best 200 free time in school history with a 1:51.02 in the third leg and freshman Joanna Rakoczy finished off the win with a split of 1:53.40.
"We could have been faster in both," stated Richmond head coach Matt Barany. "But breaking school and A-10 records in two events really opens the doors to having a great week."
In diving action, senior Maggie Maranda placed 10th in the 1-meter after scoring 192.80, while freshman Courtney Plank placed 15th, scoring 153.65 in her first championship.
The Spiders concluded Wednesday trailing Massachusetts, but with 10 points more than the next opponent, Saint Louis (79). La Salle follows at fourth with 75 points, and Fordham (68) and St. Bonaventure (67) currently sit at fifth and sixth place, respectively. Duquesne (60), Xavier (52), Rhode Island (43) and George Washington (32) round out the final four squads after day one action.
"We now have four girls' names in the record book for the first time," said Barany. "We didn't plan it, but we'll take it."
Day two of the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championships get underway, Thursday, February 22 at 10:30 a.m. with prelims in the 500 free, 200 IM and 50 free. Thursday evening's finals will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will also include the 200 free relay finals. Follow the Spiders through the Championships, concluding Saturday evening, at RichmondSpiders.com.
