NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware men’s and women’s swimming teams will compete in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship meet beginning on Wednesday evening at George Mason’s Jim McKay Natatorium.

The competition, which will be hosted by the Patriots for the 10th straight season, will kick-off tomorrow with preliminaries at 12 noon and finals at 6 p.m. The following three days will have trials at 10 a.m., diving at 1 p.m., and finals at 6 p.m.

A complete schedule as well as links to live stats for the meet can be found on caasports.com.

Led by head coach John Hayman, the men posted a program-best third-place finish in 2008. Highlighted by three conference titles, the team was only out-distanced by Old Dominion and seven-time defending champion UNC Wilmington. For his efforts, Hayman was honored as the CAA Co-Coach of the Year.

On the women’s side, Delaware placed in the top-five during six events on the way to a sixth-place showing. Towson earned the overall team championship after dethroning William & Mary, who eventually finished second.

Individual champions will be crowned in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1,650-yard freestyles along with the 100- and 200-yard events in the backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke as well as the 200- and 400-yard individual medley and the 1- and 3-meter dives. Relay titles will also be awarded in the 200- and 400-medley relays and the 200-, 400-, and 800-freestyle events.

The women will be led by Cortney Barry, who posted a third-place finish and an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 1,650-freesytle during last year’s meet. This season, the sophomore standout has recorded the third-best time in the 1,650 and the eighth-finest in the 500-free.

Emily Smathers and Maryann Walker, who both notched top-three finishes in the 200-backstroke last season, also currently rank fifth and sixth in the event entering the 2009 championship meet.

Freshman Hannah Facchine (above) has also posted top-10 times the 100- and 200-breaststroke events, while Shannon Burke ranks among the top divers in the conference in both the 1- and 3-meter boards.

The men will be led by Grady Carter, who helped guide the 200- and 400-freestyle relay teams to titles last year. During his sophomore campaign, Carter has posted the third-fastest time in the 50-freestyle in the conference while anchoring the top 200-freestyle relay team among CAA competitors.

Matt Wehrman has also posted the fourth-best time in the conference in the 1,650-freestyle, while Craig Young stands fourth in the 200-backstroke. Hans Gillan also ranks fourth in the 100-freestyle and eighth in the 100-butterfly.

Freshman Josh Hyman has had a strong campaign as well, posting top-10 times in the 200-breaststroke and both individual medley events.

Delaware also ranks in the top-two in the 200- and 400-freestyle as well as the 200-medley relay, while Matt Abbruzzese is among the top divers and has already earned a spot in the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships in the 1-meter board.

Single-session tickets for the Championship meet are $8 for adults and $6 for youth and seniors. All-session tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for 18 and under. All seating for the event is general admission.