W&M Women Earn Three NCAA Qualifications, Two Gold Medals on Friday

Three School Records Fall in Championship Action

02/29/08 10:41PM

FAIRFAX, VA - William and Mary’s women’s swimming team had a phenomenal championship session Friday night at the CAA Swimming and Diving Championships, claiming two gold medals, three NCAA provisional qualifications, three school records, a pair of conference and meet records, and a pool record to set themselves up well for the final push tomorrow. Towson continues to lead the team race with 485.5 points, with William and Mary in fourth with 321 points.

Friday Results

During the afternoon, freshman Sarah Cannon (Watkinsville, Ga.) took 13th in the 1-Meter dive with 206.10 points, and junior Samantha Greenwood (Wildwood, Ill.) was 16th with 177.30 points.

To start the evening, sophomore Courtney Alles (Manassas Park, Va.) won the consolation finals of the 400 IM with a time of 4:31.15. Classmate Suzanne Figuers (Cary, N.C.) was 13th in 4:34.02, and freshman Kristin Fimian (Oakton, Va.) had another huge personal-record, placing 14th in 4:36.40. Her time makes her the eighth-fastest swimmer in school history.

In the 100 fly, junior Whitney Pezza (Warrenton, Va.) blew past her own school record with a time of 56.39, placing seventh in the championship heat. Next up was the 200 free, where junior Marina Falcone (Potomac, Md.) swam a personal-best 1:50.28 to win the consolation finals and qualify provisionally for the NCAA Championships. Senior Christina Monsees (Brewster, N.Y.) swam 1:54.60 to place 15th overall.

In the championship heat, sophomore Katie Radloff (Arlington, Va.) won her eighth gold medal with a conference-record time of 1:48.19, earning another NCAA provisional bid. Sophomore Lindsay Guers (Orwigsburg, Pa.) took eighth after swimming 1:52.16.

Freshman Carolyn Royce (Midlothian, Va.) took 12th in the 100 breast after timing a personal-best 1:06.81 in the consolation finals. Her time moves her onto the College’s all-time top performer’s list in 10th place. In the consolation finals of the 100 back, sophomore Laura Herrmann (Fairfax Station, Va.) was 13th with a personal-record 59.36 seconds, moving up to eighth on the school’s top performer’s list. Senior captain Meredith David (Somerdale, N.J.) finished fourth in the championship finals after touching the wall in 57.30.

The evening was capped off by the 200 free relay of Emily Burns (Snellville, Ga.), Guers, Falcone, and Radloff, which timed 1:33.22 to take the gold medal. The performance broke records for the school, pool, conference, and championship meet; and also broke the NCAA provisional-qualifying barrier.

The final day of the Championships start tomorrow at 10 a.m.

CAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
1. Towson 485.5
2. UNC Wilmington 345
3. George Mason 337
4. WILLIAM AND MARY 321
5. Northeastern 255.5
6. Delaware 230
7. James Madison 229
8. Drexel 181
9. Old Dominion 164