Feb. 28, 2004
Pittsburgh, PA -- Freshman Lauren Malski made Marist history on the second day of competition at the ECAC Championships in Pittsburgh, PA, becoming the first Red Fox to make an NCAA qualifying standard. Malski eclipsed the NCAA 'B' Standard with a winning time of 1:03.46, in winning the 100-yard breaststroke. Malski reset the school record she originally set in winning the MAAC 100-yard breaststroke.
The men's team maintained its second place standing with one day remaining in the three day event, totaling 279 points. John Hopkins continues to lead the men's team competition with 307 points and Columbia is in third place with 256 points. The women's team is in third place entering the final day with 290 points. Boston College extended its lead, totaling 387 points and New Hampshire moved into second place on Saturday with 292 points.
The NCAA qualifying swim of Malski capped another strong day for the Red Foxes swimming and diving teams. Sarah McKinney and Emily Heslin swam the two fastest 200-yard freestyle times in program history in placing 3rd and 4th in that event. McKinney is now the school record holder in the event with a time of 1:55.11, just touching out Heslin, the 2004 MAAC Swimmer of the Year, who touched in a time of 1:55.29. Karen Fleckenstein rounded out the three Red Foxes in the final heat of that event, placing eighth with a time of 1:57.44.
The women's divers completed a strong showing, placing all three divers in the top-six on the one-meter board. Meghan Duffy grabbed her second silver medal of the championship with 223.85 points. Amber VanDeCarr wrapped up her collegiate career with a 5th place showing, totaling 218.55. Anna Sanner rounded out the diving effort with a 6th place showing, totaling 193.15 points.
The Red Foxes placed both their second day relays in the top five, opening the day with a 4th place finish in the 200 medley relay. Jen Meyer, Malski, Jen Gelsomino and Kim Koehler swam a time of 1:49.46 for Marist. Fleckenstein, Kristin Schnitzer, McKinney and Heslin placed 5th in the 800-yard freestyle relay, in a time of 7:50.23
Kevin Connors paced the men's team on the second day, as he swam in finals in both the 100-backstroke and 100 butterfly. In the 100 fly, he placed 4th in a time of 51.16 and then placed 6th in the 100 back in a time of 52.46
The Red Foxes 200 medley relay of Joe Pilewski, Rob Dunn, Connors and Jeff Paul placed 4th in a time of 1:33.87. The Red Foxes wrapped up the second day with a 5th place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay. Pilewski, Wes Gardner, Nick Chevalier and Matt Castillo comprised the team that posted a time of 6:58.22.
Castillo placed in finals for the second straight day, as he placed 5th in the 200-freestyle in a time of 1:42.15, after winning the 200 IM on Friday. Pilewski also placed in the finals, swimming a 100-butterfly time of 51.88, to earn 6th place in the event. Ray Ferranti placed 15th in the 100 fly, touching in a time of 52.35.
Rookie Brandon Youse was 9th in the 100 back, with a time of 53.01. Dan Garraffa (54.05) was 11th and Kevin Bobenchik (54.28) was 13th in the backstroke. Dunn placed 9th for the Red Foxes in the 100-breaststroke, with a time of 58.71, and Will Reagan was 15th in the event in a time of 59.42.
The three-day ECAC Championship concludes on Sunday at the University of Pittsburgh.
