Johns Hopkins Men Split a Pair of Dual Meets, Women Lose Two -- January 19, 2003

WEST CHESTER, Penn., Jan. 19. THE Johns Hopkins men's swimming team went 1-1 while the women finished 0-2 in a tri-meet on the campus of West Chester University this Friday and Saturday.

The men defeated the College of New Jersey, 251-96, and fell to West Chester, 208-150, while the women lost to the host Golden Rams, 216-126, and to the Lions, 183-171.

Senior Scott Armstrong (Medford Lakes, NJ/West Morris Central/Bernards) led the Blue Jay men's team by winning the 400 individual medley in 4:05.45 and the 500 freestyle in 4:34.75.

Junior Scott Pitz (Paoli, PA/Conestoga) also won two events for Hopkins, capturing the 100 breaststroke in 59.31 and the 200 breaststroke in 2:11.74.

The only other individual event winner for Hopkins was freshman Matthew Chana (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North), who took the 1650 freestyle in 16:20.59.

The JHU 800 freestyle relay team of Armstrong, senior Justin Brannock (West Palm Beach, FL/Dreyfoos School of the Arts), junior Oliver Buccicone (Rochester, MN/Rochester Lourdes), and junior Kyle Robinson (Holden, MA/Wachusett Regional) won its race in 6:59.98, while the 400 freestyle relay team of Armstrong, Brannock, senior David Lofthus (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima), and Robinson won in 3:09.06.

The Blue Jay women were led by freshman Sida Liu (Phoenix, AZ/North Canyon), who won the 100 backstroke in 1:00.48 and the 200 backstroke in 2:10.13.

Freshman Jessica Chang (Penfield, NY/Penfield) took the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.32, while fellow freshman Kristin Stepaniak (Shoreview, MN/Mounds View) captured the 200 breaststroke in 2:26.18.

The Hopkins men are now 4-5 on the season, while the women are 3-6. The Blue Jays have their first home meet of the season on Friday when they host Mary Washington at 4 p.m.