The William and Mary women's swimming team won its first relay since 2009 Thursday night at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, riding that performance and a host of strong individual showings up to third in the team standings with two days left. Towson leads the meet with 275 points, with James Madison second at 269.5 and the Tribe third with 191.5.
Complete Results
200 Free Relay
The historic gold came in the 200 free relay, where sophomore
Megan Howard (McLean, Va.), junior
Sara Shaner (Clarendon Hills, Ill.), freshman
Noelle Klockner (Marlboro, N.J.), and sophomore
Greta Schneider (Moorestown, N.J.) combined to win 1:31.89 on their third swim of the day. The performance was the second-fastest time in school history, and Howard's 23.04 leadoff was her third-fastest ever, behind only her two earlier swims on Thursday. It was the first conference title for all four women.
500 Free
The first race of the evening was the 500 free, where senior
Caylyn Tate (Sterling, Va.) swam a lifetime-best 4:51.29 to finish fourth. It was the sixth-fastest time ever swum for the Tribe, and she stands third in school history among athletes. Junior
Jen Bentley (Jamestown, N.Y.) had a personal-best of her own in the consolation finals, touching the wall in 4:53.62 to take 10th overall. It was the 10th-best race all-time for the Green and Gold, and improves Bentley to fourth on the W&M athletes' list. Freshman
Hannah Vester (Cincinnati, Ohio) was 15th overall, finishing in 4:57.97.
200 IM
In the 200 IM, freshman
Lindsey Winston (Henrico, Va.) was sixth overall in 2:04.14, improving the freshman record she set earlier in the prelims. Winston is now the fourth-fastest athlete in school history. Senior
Gabrielle Mizerak (Manassas, Va.) swam a lifetime-best 2:04.87 to finish 12th overall, and improved to seventh in school history. Classmate
Emily Bart (Cherry Hill, N.J.) was 16th overall, stopping the clock in 2:07.04.
50 Free
Right before the relay, all four women also swam the finals of the 50 free. Howard earned a silver medal, finishing second in a lifetime-best 22.93 seconds. It is tied for the 14th-fastest time in school history, and confirms Howard as the second-fastest athlete ever at W&M. It was also an NCAA provisional-qualifying time. Shaner was fifth overall in a lifetime-best 23.33 seconds, improving her to fourth in school history. Schneider lowered her best to 23.67 seconds, good for 10th overall, and Klockner tied for 12th at 23.86 seconds.
The conference championships continue Friday with a full day of action. Prelims begin at 10 a.m., with the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back; the finals of 1-meter diving and the 400 medley relay will also be contested.
2013 Colonial Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships
Team Standings
1. Towson 275
2. James Madison 269.5
3. William and Mary 191.5
4. UNCW 151
5. Delaware 115
6. Northeastern 105
7. Drexel 88
8. George Mason 62
