SOMERS, WI -- The University of Delaware men's and women's swim teams finished ranked in the top-25 of the final CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major poll of the season announced this week.
The men finished a program-best 11th in the standings, while the women ended in the 25th spot.
After the men ended the regular season with an 11-3 mark and the women finished with a 12-5 record, the Blue Hens capped off their 2007-08 campaign with a record-setting performance in the Colonial Athletic Association title meet. The team broke 19 school marks during the four-day competition under the direction of head coach John Hayman, who was named the CAA Men's Swimming Coach of the Year.
Andrew Zinn and Cortney Barry highlighted the meet after notching NCAA 'B' standards during three separate events. Zinn became the men's first provisional qualifier for the national tournament in the 50- and 100-freestyles, while Barry accomplished the feat in the 1,650-free.
The women, who finished sixth, were anchored by Emily Smathers and Kellie Pastore (at right). Smathers finished second in the 200-backstroke, while Pastore was the runner-up in the 200-breaststroke. Barry also placed third with her record-setting performance in the 1,650-free, while Maryann Walker came in right behind Smathers in the 200-back with a third-place showing in the event.
Along with Barry's record, the women also saw their all-time marks fall in four relay events. The 200- and 400-freestyle squads along with the 200- and 400-medley relay teams each set new school records.
Emily Smathers also broke her own mark in the 100-backstroke twice during the meet, topping it during her split in the 400-medley relay before shaving 0.15 seconds off her day-old record in the finals of the actual event.
The men, who placed a program-best third during the conference championship, were led by three first-place finishes. The victories came in the 200- and 400-freestyle relay events and by Zinn in the 100-yard freestyle.
The relay wins were the first by Delaware since the 1991-92 seasons, while Zinn's victory marked the Hens' first individual champion since joining the CAA.
Zinn also placed second in the 50- and 200-freestyles, and Grady Carter finished third in the 50- and 100-freestyles while also placing fifth in the 100-backstroke. The 200-medley, 400-medley, and 800-freestyle relay squads also placed fourth in their events, and John Ohlhaver came in fourth in the 200-backstroke.
In the CollegeSwimming.com rankings, Princeton was the top-ranked women’s team, garnering 207.77 points. Harvard finished second, while Eastern Michigan, Ohio, and Florida Atlantic rounded out the top-five.
Fellow CAA members William & Mary, UNC-Wilmington, Northeastern, and Towson also earned top-25 rankings. The Tribe finished 6th, while the Seahawks and Huskies came in 16th and 19th respectively. The Tigers 24th.
AGATE:
2007-08 CollegeSwimming.com Women’s National Mid-Major Rankings: 1. Princeton; 2. Harvard; 3. Eastern Michigan; 4. Ohio; 5. Florida Atlantic; 6. William & Mary; 7. Navy; 8. Devner; 9. Columbia; 10. Western Kentucky; 11. Missouri State; 12. UMBC; 13. North Texas; 14. Oakland; 15. UC-Irvine; 16. UNC-Wilmington; 17. Florida Gulf Coast; 18. Northern Arizona; 19. Northeastern; 20. Rider; 21. Davidson; 22. Cal Poly; 23. Bucknell; 24. Towson; 25. Delaware.
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