University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Atlantic 10 Championship
A-10 CHAMPS! Swimming & Diving Runs Away With Ninth Title
02/26/2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 26, 2011
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Championship ended like it began - with a record-breaking win by a Richmond relay team. In the four days between, the Spiders amassed 755 points and claimed the program's ninth conference title in 10 seasons.
Richmond posted a 177-point margin of victory over second-place Fordham, thanks in large part to the Spiders' sweep of all five relays in the Championship.
Richmond also swept the A-10 Championship women's swimming awards as sophomore Lauren Hines was named the Most Outstanding Performer, freshman Mali Kobelja was honored as the Most Outstanding Rookie Performer and head coach Matt Barany was named the Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.
"That to us is the most important thing - sweeping the relays," said Barany. "To win all five, and to do it in that fashion is exciting."
With the title already secured, Richmond's 400 free relay of sophomore Lauren Hines, freshman Mali Kobelja, sophomore Mina Vucic and junior Charlotte Brackett put down a winning time of 3:21.10 - which was four seconds clear of the field and broke the two-year old A-10 mark previously held by the Spiders.
Freshman Jessie Krebs got the final night started by cruising to a win the 1,650 free in a time of 16:32.80 - just .72 seconds shy of the A-10 record and 11 seconds clear of the field. That time crushed the previous school record by 13 seconds, and she also split at the 1,000-mark in 9:56.55, which also stands as a school record.
Junior Alexi Kuska was fifth (16:53.91), senior Chrissy Brodt was seventh (17:13.70) and junior Kristina Lewis was 14th (17:39.80).
In an exciting finish to the 200 back, Hines and senior Nicole LePere were second and third, respectively. Hines, LePere and Fordham's Brienne Ryan dueled to the wall, with Ryan nipping Hines by .03 seconds. Hines was clocked in 1:57.04 and LePere in 1:57.32.
"Lauren's distinction at this meet was her 100 back - it was one of the 10 fastest times in the country this year and will get her a berth to Austin," said Barany. "She led off the free relay tonight and almost broke a school record. She was an important part of four of the five relays."
Brackett took down yet another A-10 record, winning the 100 free in 50.12 and breaking the mark of 50.24 by Brook Boncher in 2004. Vucic was fifth (51.79) and freshman Laura Jordan was seventh (52.05). Junior Liz Cohan swam a 51.98 and won the consolation final to place ninth overall.
Freshman Mali Kobelja claimed the 200 breast title in a razor-close finish, winning by a three-tenths of a second in 2:15.37.
"Mali was the only girl at the meet that won three individual events. But she's just getting started in her swimming career," said Barany.
In the 200 fly, freshman Mariel Kush raced to a third-place in a time of 2:03.87 and senior Jill Smaniotto was seventh (2:07.79).
With 755 points, the Spiders led the way with Fordham as the runner-up (578 points). Massachusetts was third (397.5), La Salle and St. Bonaventure tied for fourth (343), followed by Duquesne (337.5), Rhode Island (246.5), George Washington (218.5), Xavier (214) and St. Louis (203).
"We didn't talked about winning the meet until tonight," said Barany. "The realization of what we accomplished was profound that we made our way back to the top after a year. The realization of what we did was nice because we didn't focus on it."
