Mary Washington Continues To Lead Both Men's And Women's Standings Entering Sunday's Final Day At 2008 CAC Swim Championships
Mary Washington continues to drive toward its eighth-straight men's team championship and 18th-straight women's title at the 2008 Capital Athletic Conference Swimming Championships at St. Mary's College.
UMW won six of Saturday's 14 events, including both 800 freestyle relays, two men's individual events and two women's individual events, giving the Eagles 11 gold medals in 24 championship races in the first two days of the 2008 CAC Championship.
The Eagles have compiled 633 points in the women's standings to take a commanding lead over host St. Mary's (351.5), Marymount (326) and Salisbury (299.5) heading into Sunday's action.
On the men's side, UMW has 575.5 points to lead York (417), Marymount (297), Salisbury (291) and St. Mary's (261.5).
Saturday's individual winners for the Mary Washington women included freshmen Rachel Wallace (400 IM) and Sarah Crockett (200 freestyle) while the men's gold medalists were senior Kennard Smith (100 breaststroke) and freshman Stephen Clendenin (400 IM).
York senior Steven Fulcher recorded the best individual performance of Saturday's evening races, breaking an 11-year old CAC record in the 100 backstroke. Fulcher's time of 52.80 beat the record-setting effort of Catholic's John Cooper (52.91) in 1997. York, second in the men's team standings, also captured top honors in the men's 200 medley relay.
St. Mary's posted four first-place performances Saturday, including the women's 200 medley relay and individual wins by sophomore Rachel Hotchko (100 butterfly) and junior Brie McDowell (100 backstroke) to gain second place in the women's standings. On the men's side, junior Mike Preston won the 200 freestyle.
Marymount took first place in two events Saturday, the Saints's first two golds of the weekend. Junior Greg Murtha won the men's 100 butterfly while classmate Ashley Smith touched the wall first in the 100 breaststroke.
The competion will conclude Sunday, beginning with the preliminary races at 10 a.m. and the championship races at 6 p.m. Prior to the evening swims, the CAC will honor the senior members of each team in its traditional final day ceremony.
