RICHMOND, Va. -- University of Delaware swimming standout Cortney Barry has been named the Colonial Athletic Association female swimmer of the week after leading the Blue Hens to a sweep during last weekend’s Loyola H2Ounds Invitational.

During the meet, Barry won four events, including three individual competitions. Her performance helped the Hens easily out-distance Loyola and Marist as the team topped the host Greyhounds, 235-129, while also downing the Red Foxes, 252-113.

One of the top distance swimmers in the conference, she captured the 500- and 1650-freestyles before also taking the 200-yard discipline. During the meet, Barry also was a member of one of the team’s four victorious relay teams.

The sophomore from Laurel, Maryland opened the competition with an impressive showing in the 500-free, pacing the field with a season-best time of 4:59.70. She beat the next closest competitor by a full seven seconds on the way to the victory.

Later, she returned to the pool on the first day of the meet to swim the second leg of the 800-freestyle relay, eventually leading the squad to a win after finishing in 7:45.52.

On the second day of the invitational, she cruised to a victory in the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:55.39. Her time in the event was the finest posted by a Blue Hen since she recorded a 1:54.27 during the 2007 CAA Championship meet.

Barry capped her day with a strong performance in the 1,650-freestyle, completing the course in 17:17.76. Her time easily out-distanced the next closest swimmer, beating the rest of the field by over 30 seconds.

Her performance continued to build upon a strong sophomore campaign. During the season, she has notched the fastest time on the team in the 200-, 500-, 1000-, and 1,650-freestyles.

As a freshman, Barry earned honorable mention Mid-Major All-American honors after reaching the NCAA B-Standard in the 1,650-freestyle during the 2007 CAA Championships. She eventually finished third in the event at the meet and garnered All-Conference accolades for her effort.

Barry is the first female Blue Hen to earn the weekly honor since Maryann Walker was named the top swimmer on October 27.

Along with Barry, the CAA selected Drexel’s Sherif Madkour as the top swimmer on the men’s side.

Barry and the Blue Hens will take a winter break before returning to the pool on January 10 for a 1 p.m. showdown with the Towson Tigers in Maryland.