Senior Traci Liberi

Sophomore Heather Link

BALITMORE, Md. – Four Niagara University school records fell on the first day of the 2005 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Swimming and Diviing Championships at Loyola College.

Senior Traci Liberi (Churchville, N.Y.) defended her 50 free title by breaking the school record with a 24.42. She broke her own record of 24.43 set in 2003.

Liberi, along with sophomore Heather Link (Wheatfield, N.Y.), freshmen Mariah Glass (Oswego, N.Y.) and Kelly Kennedy (York, N.Y.), broke the 200 free relay school record when they placed second with a 1:38.55. The relay smashed the old record of 1:40.25 set in 1993.

Link set the school record in the 100 back when she swam a 1:01.78 in the lead-off leg of the 400 medley relay. She broke Melissa Sargent’s 1993 mark of 1:01.80.

Freshman Pat Garvey (Pine Bush, N.Y.) took down the 200 IM record with a 1:57.74, breaking Keith Dissington’s mark of 1:59.35 set in 1980.

Overall, the Purple Eagle men’s team is in fifth place with 89 points. They trail Rider (212), Marist (200), Loyola (145) and Iona (111). The women’s team is in seventh place with 74 points. Rider is in first (201) followed by Marist (160), Loyola (138), Fairfield (102), Iona (96) and Siena (84).

Competition in the MAAC Championship continues Friday at 10 a.m. at the Loyola Fitness and Aqatic Center.