Feb. 18, 2005

Results

Landover, MD - After completing six final events on the first day of competition at the NEC Women's Swimming & Diving Championship, defending champion Gardner-Webb leads the field with 202 points. Central Connecticut State is right behind with 177 points, followed by Georgia Southern and Georgetown in third (158 pts.) and fourth (151 pts.), respectively. The Bulldogs set meet records in the 200 yard IM and 200 yard freestyle relay, while the Blue Devils established new marks in the 50 freestyle and 400 yard medley relay.

Gardner-Webb's Heather Roka (Fort Myers, FL/Fort Myers) took top honors in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 4:58.32, while Taylor Simpson (Boiling Springs, NC/Crest) won the 200 yard individual medley in a record time of 2:05.27. The Bulldogs relay squad of Kathryn Williams (Greenville, SC/Eastside), Whitney Hooley (Apple Creek, OH/Wooster), Terra Wilson (Potter Valley, CA/Deep Valley Christian) and Simpson swam for a meet record of 1:35.84 in the 200 yard freestyle relay. Wilson came up second for GWU in the 50 freestyle (23.45), while the Bulldogs 400 yard medley relay team of Hooley, Sarah Mrazek (Tallahassee, FL/Tallahassee CC), Isa Olivas (Miami, FL/Miami Sunset) and Wilson also finished with the silver medal after posting a time of 3:52.32.

After notching three of their own first place performances, Central Connecticut State is right on the heels of Gardner-Webb. The Blue Devils Jaime Crowley (Plainville, CT/Plainville) set a meet record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.05. The Blue Devils 400 yard medley relay squad of Lindsey Snyder (Winterport, ME/Bangor), Crowley, Rachel Brookman (Rocky Hill, CT/Rocky Hill) and Joanna Bocer (Zielona Gora, Poland/LO VII Zielona Gora) also won their event in record time with a swim of 3:49.99. Crowley, Brookman, Heather Joy (Middlebury, CT/Pomperaug) and Bocer joined forces to post a second place showing in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:36.31. Diver Juliana DiPlacido (Mount Royal, Quebec) finished first in the one meter diving event with a score of 253.90 points.

Georgetown's Caitlin Colling (Monson, MA/Monson) and Katie Amaro (Shreveport, LA/Loyola Prep) both finished second in their respective events. Colling went 2:08.01 in the 200 yard IM, while Amaro posted a time of 4:59.47 in the 500 yard freestyle. Action resumes at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex on Friday for the second day of competition. Trials will begin in the morning at 10:00 am, while finals are scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.

Day One Event Winners (Women)

200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Gardner-Webb (Williams, Hooley, Wilson, Simpson) - 1:35.84*

500 Yard Freestyle: Heather Roka (Gardner-Webb) - 4:58.32

200 Yard Individual Medley: Taylor Simpson (Gardner-Webb) - 2:05.27*

50 Yard Freestyle: Jaime Crowley (Central Connecticut State) - 23.05*

400 Yard Medley Relay: Central Connecticut State (Snyder, Crowley, Brookmna, Bocer) - 3:49.99*

One Meter Diving: Juliana DiPlacido (Central Connecticut State) - 253.90

* NEC Record

Team Scores After Day One (Women) 1. Gardner-Webb 202 2. Central Connecticut State 177 3. Georgia Southern 158 4. Georgetown 151 5. Wagner 149 6. Radford 77 7. St. Francis (PA) 67 8. Howard 55 9. Sacred Heart 38 10. Florida A&M 37 11. North Carolina A&T 32 12. St. Francis (NY) 18 Campbell 18