University Athletic Association Championships: Day Three

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ROCHESTER, New York, February 23. EMORY University's men and women swim teams each claimed their tenth consecutive team titles at the 2008 University Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships hosted by the University of Rochester at the Webster Aquatic Center.

The Emory women used an all-around team effort in winning their 17th overall Association championship, compiling 1,951 points for the four-day meet. The score is the highest point total for the UAA meet since converting to the three-heat final format (bonus, consolation, and championship) last season.

Washington University in St. Louis edged out New York University in a battle for second place in the women's standings, compiling 1,284 points to the Violets' 1,260 points. Carnegie Mellon University finished fourth with 1,117 points, followed by, in order, the University of Chicago (852), Case Western Reserve University (791), host University of Rochester (740), and Brandeis University (588).

The Emory men, sparked by multiple Association championships by sophomores Kevin Yamada (three) and John Petroff (two), along with an individual title from junior Keith Diggs, totaled 1,704 points in successfully defending their team championship.

Carnegie Mellon University and New York University finished in second (1,413) and third (1,315) place, respectively, while Washington University in St. Louis totaled 1,142 points to finish fourth. The University of Chicago (999), Case Western Reserve University (677), host University of Rochester (634), and Brandeis University (477) rounded out the standings.

The Emory University tandem of freshman Liz Horvat and sophomore Ruth Westby garnered UAA Rookie and Swimmer of the Year accolades for the women, each capturing three individual Association titles. Horvat posted NCAA Division III automatic qualifying marks in winning the 500-yard and 1,650-yard freestyles, and the 400-yard individual medley, while Westby became the first UAA female swimmer to sweep the freestyle sprint events, establishing UAA meet records in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles to go with her crown in the 200-yard freestyle. Her times in the two longer distances were also NCAA automatic qualifying marks. Westby also swam on two winning relays for Emory, anchoring the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays.

New York University junior Andrew Lardiere was named the men's Association Swimmer of the Year after sweeping all three freestyle sprint events (the first Association male swimmer to accomplish the feat) and swimming on three victorious relays. Lardiere captured the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles, setting Association records in both events during the preliminary heats, while adding the 200-yard freestyle. He swam the anchor leg on the Violets 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard medley relays, both setting new UAA meet records, and the meet-ending 400-yard freestyle relays.

Washington University freshman David Chao was named the Association men's Rookie of the Year, registering top-10 finishes in the 50-yard (ninth), 100-yard (tied for sixth), and 200-yard (fourth) freestyles and swimming the leadoff leg of the Bears' runner-up 400-yard freestyle relay.

Washington University senior Priya Srikanth and freshman Max Norris of New York University garnered UAA men's and women's Diver of the Year accolades, respectively. Srikanth successfully defended her one-meter and three-meter springboard titles, while Norris, a Rochester-area native, made his Association championship debut by capturing both boards before the hometown crowd.

OTHER MEET SUPERLATIVES FROM SATURDAY'S FINALS

Carnegie Mellon freshman Molly Evans established a new UAA record in winning the women's 200-yard backstroke, posting an NCAA "A" qualifying time of 2:04.67, stopping defending champion and previous record holder Meredith Nordbrock of Washington from claiming her third title of the meet (and eighth career Association championship). The top three finishers all posted NCAA "A" cut times, Nordbrock turning in a time of 2:05.04, and junior Tess Pasternak of Emory finishing third in 2:05.07.

NYU junior Paul Hogan turned in an NCAA "A" cut in capturing the men's 1,650-yard freestyle timed finals. Swimming in the final heat, Hogan posted a time of 15:51.24, .43 seconds under the qualifying standard. He was the lone Violet swimmer outside of teammate Lardiere to claim a UAA title.

Carnegie Mellon's sophomore duo of John Johnson and Jeff Dahlen finished 1-2, respectively, in the men's 200-yard backstroke, with the 60-point contibution helping the Tartans in jumping over NYU into second place in the final team standings (first place was worth 32 points, and second place worth 28 points).

Freshman Marie Kim accounted for the only other individual UAA title for Emory outside of Horvat and Westby, capturing the women's 200-yard breaststroke in a time of 2:25.62.

University of Chicago freshman Ellie Elgamal completed her sweep of the women's butterfly events with her triumph in the 200-yard event, posting a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 2:08.23. She is only the second Chicago female swimmer to come away a multi-event champion in a UAA meet (see Friday's recap).

Special thanks to University Athletic Association for contributing this report.

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