University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Miami
Richmond Swimming & Diving Rolls Over Hurricanes, Edged By Terps
01/24/2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Jan. 24, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Richmond women's swimming & diving team picked up a 188-90 win over Miami (Fla.), but was edged by host Maryland, 149-144, Saturday afternoon in College Park. The Spiders set a school record in the 200 medley in the meet.
"I am proud of our year over year development," said head coach Matt Barany. "We are moving through January as a group eager to go fast. We got off to a great start today with the school record in the relay."
Richmond wasted little time setting the record as the relay of Alex Helland, Lauren Beaudreau, Katie Sieben and Charlotte Brackett set the mark in a time of 1:43.02 in the meet's first event. The previous Richmond standard of 1:43.49 was set in 2007 at the A-10 Championship by Helland, Beaudreau, Sieben and C.J. Pisano.
Beaudreau - a senior All-American and the reigning Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week - picked up four golds in the meet, including the 200 medley relay. She out-raced the field in the 100 breast (1:04.19), crushed the field in the 200 breast (2:15.38) and won the 200 IM in 2:03.17.
The Spiders followed that up with the next event in the water as freshman Alexi Kuska and sophomore Chrissy Brodt swept the first two spots in the 1,000 free. Kuska was clocked in a time of 10:08.12 - 17 seconds faster than her previous season best time to rank third all-time in Richmond history, while Brodt cruised in at 10:19.82 for the school's sixth-fastest time ever.
Kuska and Brodt were second (4:56.12) and third (5:02.78), respectively, in the 500 free.
"Our distance group was super today," said Barany. "Alexi and Chrissy have taken chances early in races and been able to finish to tough."
Helland picked up a victory in the 100 back, finishing in 55.72, while the junior was third in the 200 back (2:02.67).
The Spiders swept the top four spots in the 200 back, with sophomore Elizabeth Hailand taking top honors (2:01.58), followed by junior Beth Ann Platt (2:02.11), Helland and sophomore Nicole LePere (2:03.08).
The 100 fly saw Sieben post a time of 54.64 to take the gold, while the junior anchored the second-place 200 free relay (1:35.66). The relay also featured Brackett, Hannah Marlow and Jill Smaniotto.
The Spiders return to action next Saturday, hosting James Madison in their only home meet of the season. The meet begins at 1 p.m. at the Robins Center Natatorium.
