University of Richmond Athletics
Swimming Guns For Ninth-Straight A-10 Crown
02/17/2010 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 17, 2010
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Winners of an Atlantic 10 record eight-consecutive Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, the University of Richmond heads to Buffalo, N.Y. this weekend in search of No. 9. The Championship commences Wednesday afternoon.
Richmond claimed its eighth consecutive title a year ago as the Spiders broke multiple A-10 records and turned aside runner-up Fordham by a score of 742.0-549.5.
Led by seniors Katie Sieben, who won five gold medals in the 2009 A-10 Championship and holds A-10 records in the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay, and Alex Helland, the Spiders were a preseason pick of No. 2 by the coaches behind that same Fordham team they beat last season.
"We have never focused on the team title, so [being picked second] isn't a major or minor distraction for us," said head coach Matt Barany. "We know we've been voted second, but we aren't going to change our freestyle because of a preseason poll. I know there are nerves underneath, but I am getting a confident vibe from the women."
Richmond's string of eight-straight titles is the longest active streak of any sport in the A-10, and the league's third-longest all-time. Only 12-straight women's rowing titles by Massachusetts, along with nine-straight titles by UMass softball and West Virginia men's tennis are longer.
"Katie and Alex appear to be at their best," said Barany. "They both look well-rested and healthy, so I'm ready to see how strong they are here."
The Spiders have no divers competing at this year's Championship.
The Championship commences at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17, with the trials of the men's one-meter diving competition, followed by the finals of the men's and women's 200-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relays at 6:30 p.m., along with the finals of the men's one-meter diving competition.
It continues at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday with time trials, followed by the finals at 6:30pm. The same schedule will be followed on Friday and Saturday.
For complete coverage of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, including live results, log on to www.atlantic10.org
