FAIRFAX, VA – The University of Delaware men’s and women’s swim teams saw three program records set as the Blue Hens finished the first day of the Colonial Athletic Association championships in fourth place during the title meet hosted by George Mason at the McKay Natatorium.

The men, who saw records fall in both the 200-medley and 800-freestyle relays, finished the day with 60 points. UNC-Wilmington and Old Dominion are tied in first with 74, while George Mason is in third with 64.

The women, who also broke the school record in the 200-medley relay, ended the day tied with Towson with 74 points. George Mason leads with 109 and is followed by UNC-Wilmington and Northeastern.

On the women’s side, the Blue Hens saw their 200-yard medley relay team set a new school record after finishing in eighth with a time of 1:46.35. The squad, led by Emily Smathers, Kellie Pastore, Sarah Begley (at right), and Maryann Walker, took nearly a full second off the previous mark set during the 2001-02 season.

The women’s 800-freestyle relay team, led by Donna Healy, Cecily Connell, Cortney Barry, and Catherine Gallagher, also finished seventh with a time of 7:41.33.

During the only individual competition of the day, junior Shannon Burke placed seventh in the 3-meter dive after posting a score of 230.75. She was closely followed by teammates Melissa Berke and Lisa Goyette, who finished ninth and tenth, respectively.

The men’s medley team, anchored by John Ohlhaver, Ross Buckwalter, Scott Tsuchitani, and Grady Carter, finished in fourth with a school-record time of 1:32.39. Their pace shaved nearly two seconds off the old mark set during the 1988-89 campaign.

Ohlhaver later returned to the pool and teamed with Adam Blomberg, Andrew Zinn, and Dominic Pavlik to break the school record in the 800-yard freestyle relay after placing fourth with a time 6:47.29. That shattered the previous standard by over six seconds set last year by Blomberg, Zinn, Ohlhaver, and Brendan Spencer.

Action will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. with preliminaries followed by the finals of the 50- and 500-freestyle events as well as the 200 IM, men’s 1-meter dive, and the 400-medley relay.

AGATE:

Women’s Team Standings After Day One: 1. George Mason - 109; 2. UNC-Wilmington 79; 3. Northeastern – 75; 3. Delaware – 74; 3. Towson – 74; 6. William & Mary – 69; 6. Drexel – 69; 8. James Madison – 64; 7. 9. Old Dominion – 50.

Delaware Competitors: 8th Place - 200 Medley Relay (Emily Smathers, Kellie Pastore, Sarah Begley, Maryann Walker), 1:46.35; 7th Place – 800 Freestyle Relay (Donna Healy, Cecily Connell, Cortney Barry, and Catherine Gallagher), 7:41.33;  7th Place – Shannon Burke, 3-Meter Dive (223.35); 9th Place – Melissa Berke, 3-Meter Dive (220.05); 10th Place – Lisa Goyette, 3-Meter Dive (206.40).

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