George Mason Women, UNC Wilimington Men Ahead After First Day of CAA Championships

FAIRFAX, Virginia, February 14. THREE CAA Swimming and Diving records were set on the opening day of the 2007 Championships, which was hosted by George Mason University. The records were set in the women's three-meter diving competition, the women's 200-yard medley and the women's 800-yard freestyle relay.

In the first event of the day, William & Mary's 200-yard medley relay team captured a new conference record with a 1:44.00 finish. Meredith David, Kelly Reitz, Erin Welshofer and Katie Radloff earned the Tribe their first goal medal of the championship by beating the previous record of 1:44.76 set by Towson's 2005 squad. UNC Wilmington's current relay team also finished the race under the previous CAA record with a time of 1:44.24 receiving second place honors.

Drexel sophomore Kate Hynes completed the three-meter dive with a score of 324.55, setting a new pool and CAA record. Hynes captured the CAA record, under the new scoring format, a year ago with a score of 296.45. George Mason finished with three members of its women's diving team earning points in the three-meter diving competition.

The Tribe earned its second women's gold medal and set its second CAA record of the day as Marina Falcone, Christina Monsees, Marnie Rognlien and Katie Radloff completed the 800-yard freestyle relay in a record time of 7:24.05. The relay team surpassed Towson's 2005 relay team record of 7:32.67. Towson's current squad finished the 800-yard freestyle relay, also under the former record, with a time of 7:24.48 to earn the silver medal.

On the men's side of competition, the Seahawks of UNCW collected a first place finish in the 200-yard medley relay in exciting fashion. Andrew Rogers, Matt Layne, Robert Anderson and Eric Boyer completed the race with a time of 1:32.23, while James Madison's relay team followed with a close time of 1:32.24. Old Dominion captured third place with a time of 1:33.54.

In the men's 800-yard freestyle relay, George Mason's Tom Koucheravy, Steven Benecki, Matt Kane and Joe Houchin earned the gold medal with a time of 6:43.12. Towson's relay squad followed with a time of 6:46.14 for second place and ODU touched the wall at 6:48.83 for its second bronze medal of the evening.

The first day of competition finished with George Mason women's squad leading the pack with 111 points, followed by William & Mary's women's team with 80. In the men's competition, 2006 defending CAA Champions UNC Wilmington leads by four points (68) over George Mason (64) and Old Dominion (64), which are tied for second place.

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