Feb. 18, 2006
BALTIMORE, MD - The Marist Women's Swimming and Diving Team entered the final day of competition at the MAAC Championships trailing Rider by 16 points. Following the final event of the day, the Red Foxes were on top of the entire field, as they posted a point total of 821. Sophomore Jamie Falco (North Haven, Conn.) set a new MAAC and school record in the 200-yard backstroke, swimming a time of 2:06.04. For the second straight day Lauren Malski (Trumbull, Conn.) met the NCAA "B" qualifying standard in her event, Saturday it was the 200-yard breaststroke.
Marist methodically chipped away ay the Rider lead, consistently placing swimmers in the top six. In the 200-yard backstroke, Falco was followed by Karen Fleckenstein (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) in second and Ashley Papuga (Branford, Conn.) in sixth.
Senior Jackie Fountaine (Pawling, N.Y.) would continue the trend as she bested the field in the 100-yard freestyle, clocking in with a time of 53.27 seconds. Kimberly Koehler (Narragansett, R.I.) was right behind Fountaine in sixth place, posting a time of 54.55 seconds.
Next up for Marist was Malski in the 200-yard breaststroke. On Friday she became the first individual athlete in school history to meet an NCAA qualifying standard in the 100-yard breaststroke. On Saturday she followed suit as she accomplished it again in the 200 breast, showing a time of 2:17.63. Cindy Spiecker (Warrington, Pa.) placed sixth in the event in 2:32.55. Following the event Marist took an eight point lead over the Broncs.
Marist maintained the lead following the 200-yard butterfly as two freshman paced the Red Foxes in the biggest race of their young careers. Sandra Bujalski (Thomaston, Conn.) and Savannah Puca (Huntington, N.Y.) went two, three in the event, posting times of 2:10.23 and 2:10.32. Kelsea Fortner (Mystic, Conn.) and Lindsay Marotto (South Windsor, Conn.) placed ninth and eleventh for Marist.
With an eight point lead and just two events remaining, three-meter diving and the 400-freestyle relay, it was up to Marist who won the crown. In diving, Marist showed finishes of first, second and fourth. Meghan Duffy (Cheshire, Conn.) again led the way for the Red Foxes as she won the event with a score of 452.95. Following the meet, Duffy was named 2006 Women's Diver of the Year. This marked the second straight year she has earned the honor. Melissa Mangona (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and Anna Sanner (Somerset, Pa.) took second and fourth with scores of 400.20 and 377.10, respectively.
That set up the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay.The team of Fountaine, Koehler, Bujalski and Falco closed out the dramatic win by placing first and setting a new school record and MAAC record with a time of 3:32.89.
The come from behind win gives the Red Foxes three straight MAAC titles. The work is not done, however, as those who qualified for the ECAC Championships will be in action next weekend in Pittsburgh.
