Junior Brian Griffin finished second in the 100 breaststroke Friday at the MAAC Championships. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Both the men’s and women’s 200 medley relay teams posted ECAC qualifying times Friday at the second day of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Loyola College in Baltimore, Md.
The women’s relay team of juniors Traci Liberi, Karolina Bazylewicz and freshmen Jodi Kennis and Heather Link tied the school record with a time of 1:52.80 while placing fourth in the event. The men’s relay of juniors Nate Katz and Brian Griffin, sophomores Kevin Klein and Andy Franham placed sixth in a time of 1:39.50.
"We were really pleased with today’s results," Niagara head coach Pete Thompson said. "We were off this morning, but the team really rebounded this evening. We raced well and look forward to getting back into the pool tomorrow."
The Niagara men’s squad moved up to sixth in the overall standings, passing Saint Peter’s today. The Purple Eagles have 167 points and trail Fairfield by 57 points. The women’s squad is in seventh place with 173 points, 65 points behind Fairfield.
For the second-straight year, Griffin finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.49. Klein placed sixth in the 100 backstroke (53.91) and 10th in the 100 butterfly (54.13). Katz placed 15th in the 200 free (1:51.09) and freshman Dave Germain was fifth on the three-meter with 315.30 points. The men’s 800 free relay team of Klein, freshman Brandon Smith, Farnham and Katz placed sixth in a time of 7:27.73.
Farnham knocked off 18 seconds from his career-best with a 10:56.65 in 1,000 free.
On the women’s side, Liberi placed seventh in the 200 free (1:59.89), Link finished 11th in the 100 backstroke (1:02.90), Bazylewicz 12th in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.31), senior Christan Kane was 13th (4:57.04) in the 400 IM and Kennis was 16th in the 100 butterfly (1:04.74). The 800 free relay team of Kane, senior Ashley Churder, junior Jen Gerenski and sophomore Jody Pangburn placed eighth in 8:35.64.
Sophomore Kim Shoemaker knocked off 29 seconds from her career-best with a 13:20.55 in 1,000 free.
Saturday’s competition begins with qualifying heats at 10 a.m., followed by the finals at 6:30 p.m.
