AIRFAX, VA -- Senior Andrew Zinn set a new school record in the 50-yard freestyle and became the first Blue Hen in program history to reach a provisional qualifying time for the NCAA meet after helping lead the University of Delaware swim teams to a strong showing on the second day of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship meet at George Mason's McKay Natatorium.

In the 50-freestyle, Zinn placed second and smashed his own school record after speeding to a time of 20.16 in both the preliminaries and finals. His pace was .02 seconds under the NCAA 'B' Standard, making him Delaware's first provisional qualifier in a swimming event.

His second-place finish was also the highest ever by a Delaware swimmer in the men's CAA meet. Mike Gallaher was the last Blue Hen to place higher than second in a conference championship meet after winning the crown in the 1,650-freestyle event during the 2000-01 America East competition.

Overall, the Delaware men remained in fourth place at the conference meet with 174 points. The women, who also entered the day in fourth, fell to sixth with 121.

UNC-Wilmington still sits atop the men's standings with 264 points, while Towson grabbed the lead from host George Mason on the women's side with 268.

On the women's side, the Hens were led by their 400-medley relay team which set a school record with a time of 3:51.93. The unit, comprised of Emily Smathers, Kellie Pastore, Sarah Begley, and Maryann Walker (at right), placed fifth in the event.

During the relay, Smathers also set a new mark in the 100-backstroke during her split with a time of 57.83.

Earlier in the day, Walker sailed to a sixth place showing in the 200-yard IM after touching the wall in 2:06.39. Barry also placed 11th in the 500-freestyle with a time of 4:57.28.

Along with Zinn, Grady Carter finished third in the 50-yard freestyle after touching the wall in 20.36. John Ohlhaver came in 10th in the same event with a time of 21.38.

Zinn, Carter, Adam Blomberg, and Craig Young also set a new school mark in the 400-medley relay after placing fourth with a time of 3:24.96. Their pace broke the previous record of 3:26.66 set during the 1988-89 campaign. During the event, Young also set a new mark in the 100-backstroke during his split with a time of 52.07.

Matt Abbruzzese also had a top-five showing as he placed fifth in the 3-meter dive with a score of 269.25. Thomas Gallagher recorded an eighth place finish in the same event, while Matthew Ryan came in 12th.

Freshman Matt Wehrman finished 11th in the 500-freestyle with a time of 4:41.09. He just edged out teammate Dominic Pavlik, who notched a 12th place finish in 4:41.29. Fellow first-year standout Michael Wodoslawsky also came in 14th in the 200-yard Individual Medley and fell just half a second shy of the school record with a time of 1:55.91.

The championship meet will continue tomorrow with the third day of action highlighted by the finals of the 400 IM, 200-freestyle, women's 1-meter dive, 200-freestyle relay, and the 100-yard events for the backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke.

AGATE:

Women’s Team Standings After Day Two: 1. Towson - 268; 2. George Mason - 200; 3. William & Mary - 182; 4. UNC-Wilmington 157; 5. Northeastern – 134; 6. Delaware – 121; 7. James Madison - 119; 8. Drexel – 103; 9. Old Dominion – 80.

Delaware Competitors: 5th Place - 400 Medley Relay (Emily Smathers, Kellie Pastore, Sarah Begley, and Maryann Walker), 3:51.93; 6th Place – Maryann Walker - 200 IM (2:06.39); 11th Place - Cortney Barry, 500 freestyle (4:57.28).

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