Towson Women, William & Mary Men Lead at CAA Championships

KNOXVILLE, TN - December 5, 2013 - Towson University cheers on Kaitlin Burke in the 500 Yard Freestyle during the USA Swimming AT&T Winter National Championships at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo Courtesy: Tia Patron/Tennessee Athletics

RICHMOND – The 2015 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship kicked off tonight at the Collegiate School Aquatics Center in Richmond, Va., while the Towson women and William & Mary men grabbed the early edge atop the team leader boards.

The first two events of the four-day championship meet took place tonight in the men’s and women’s 200-Yard Medley Relay, as well as the men’s and women’s 800-Yard Free Relay.

The Tribe women claimed the first medal of the championship in the 200 medley relay. William & Mary’s team of Sophie Rittenhouse, Annie Valls, Jessie Ustjanauskas and Megan Howard touched the wall first in 1:40.43. Delaware and Towson each followed closely in second and third, with respective times of 1:40.54 and 1:40.89.

In the men’s 200 medley relay, the Green & Gold came through again and successfully defended their title from one year ago. This year’s team, led by Will Manion, Matt Goetz, Justin Barden and Billy Russell, clocked a time of 1:27.83. College of Charleston earned 34 points with a second place finish in 1:28.49, followed by UNCW’s team, which touched the wall in 1:28.56 for third place.

The women’s 800 free relay was a back and forth battle for first and second for most of the race between JMU and TU. Eventually, Towson pulled ahead in the last hundred yards and grabbed first place with a time of 7:12.58. That team was led by Victoria Oslund, Kendall Krumenacker, Macy Arnold and Charlotte Holz. The Dukes earned 34 points for a second-place showing, finishing with a time of 7:13.84. Delaware rounded out the top three spots in 7:17.78.

History was made in the men’s 800 free relay for the second straight championship. The Tribe men, fresh off setting a new conference record in the event last year (6:31.77), cruised for another new mark. Taegan Clarke, Will Manion, Jeremiah O’Donnell and Billy Russell were credited with the performance that now stands alone in the CAA record books with a time of 6:31.07.

Not to be outdone, Towson (6:34.26) and Drexel (6:35.93) earned critical points for second and third in the night’s final event.

Last weekend, the 2015 CAA Diving Championship took place at the University of Delaware. This was the first year that diving and swimming were separated, though the scoring and relevance of both events still remains the same as in years past. The league crowned its champions on the men’s and women’s side for both the 1 and 3-Meter boards at UD, and also handed out this year’s major award winners for diving.

Women’s Team Scores – Day 1

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Men’s Team Scores – Day 1

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The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworld.com.

2015 Colonial Athletics Association, Day One – Results

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