Feb. 21, 2009

2009 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships

Lewisburg, Pa. -Navy's Adam Meyer turned in a 1:42.54 in the men's 200-yard butterfly, surpassing the NCAA A-cut standard of 1:42.95 to automatically qualify for the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday evening at the 2009 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships. One Patriot League Championship Meet record was set, while ten Patriot League and League Championship Meet standards were set in the meet's final session at Kinney Natatorium on the campus of Bucknell University.

Each team's seniors were recognized before the women took to the pool for the 1,650-yard freestyle finals. Navy's Tara Chapmon retained her title and broke her Patriot League and Patriot League Championship Meet records of 16:34.63 with a 16:26.84 in the event, also an NCAA B-cut standard. The junior has won the event the last three championship meets.

In the men's 1,650-yard free, Erik Hunter of Navy shattered the previous Patriot League and League Championship Meet records with a time of 14:58.72 in the event. Hunter set the previous Patriot League record late last year with a 15:27.49 effort, while the League Championship Meet standard of 15:32.76 was set at 1992 League Championships by Paul Smith of Fordham. Both Hunter and event runner-up Luke Trafton (15:20.34) of Bucknell made NCAA B-cuts.

In the men's one-meter diving final, Navy's Olaf Olson posted 345.20 points to win the event and clinch 2009 Patriot League Male Diver of the Meet honors. Olson also set the Patriot League and League Championship Meet records. This is the sixth straight year that Navy has swept both the one- and three-meter men's diving titles.

Erin McGraw and Beverly Walker went one-two for Colgate in the women's 200-yard backstroke, with McGraw finishing with a time of 1:58.77. McGraw set the Patriot League and League Championship Meet records at this morning's preliminaries when she swam a 1:58.67.

Navy's Andrew Hetzner swam 1:45.35 in the men's 200-yard backstroke, setting both Patriot League and League Championship Meet records in the event. Hetzner is the third consecutive Midshipmen to win the event, with teammate Billy Very winning in 2007 and Ryan Ward winning in 2008.

Ashley Bottger of Colgate set both Patriot League and League Championship Meet records of 49.87 in the women's 100-yard free final. In the men's 100-yard free final, Navy freshman Mac Anthony swam a 44.36 to win the men's title.

Senior Emily Murphy of Colgate set new Patriot League and League Championship Meet standards in the women's 200-yard breaststroke with a 2:13.46 performance Saturday evening, resetting the records she set Saturday morning of 2:14.30. Murphy's time is an NCAA B-cut in the event.

Army's James McLaughlin is the third Black Knight to win the men's 200-yard breaststroke. The junior turned in a time of 2:02.04 to win the title.

Caren Guyett dethroned last year's 200-yard butterfly champion Kelly Zahalka of Navy with a Patriot League and League Championship Meet record-setting performance, turning in a time of 2:01.31. With the win, Guyett became the first Raider to win the 200-yard butterfly title in Patriot League history.

In the women's three-meter diving event, Army's Lindsey Adao won the title with 255.45 points, securing 2009 Patriot League Female Diver of the Meet honors.

The Colgate women completed a sweep of the championship's relay with a 3:20.55 performance in the 400-yard freestyle. The team of Beverly Walker, Lisa Marchi, Emily Murphy and Ashley Bottger broke the previous Patriot League and League Championship Meet records of 3:24.83, set at last year's title meet by Navy.

In the final event of the championship meet, the Navy team of Mac Anthony, Aaron Aiken, Nathan Durham and Alex Oldenkamp set a Patriot League Championship Meet record of 2:58.39 in the men's 400-yard free relay. The previous League Championship Meet record was 3:00.29 and was set by Navy at the 2005 Championships.

For the final meet results, including the 2009 Patriot League Swimming and Diving major award winners, please visit the 2009 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships page.

Saturday Evening Session #3- Champions

Women's 1,650-yard Free- Tara Chapmon, Navy 16:26.84 *

Men's 1,650-yard Free- Erik Hunter, Navy 14:58.72 *

Men's One-Meter Diving- Olaf Olson, Navy 345.20 pts. *

Women's 200-yard Backstroke- Erin McGraw, Colgate 1:58.77

Men's 200-yard Backstroke- Andrew Hetzner, Navy 1:45.35 *

Women's 100-yard Free- Ashley Bottger, Colgate 49.87 *

Men's 100-yard Free- Mac Anthony, Navy 44.36

Women's 200-yard Breaststroke- Emily Murphy, Colgate 2:13.46 *

Men's 200-yard Breaststroke- James McLaughlin, Army 2:02.04

Women's 200-yard Butterfly- Caren Guyett, Colgate 2:01.31 *

Men's 200-yard Butterfly- Adam Meyer, Navy 1:42.54 * #

Women's Three-Meter Diving- Lindsey Adao, Army 255.45 pts.

Women's 400-yard Freestyle Relay- Colgate (Beverly Walker, Lisa Marchi, Emily Murphy, Ashley Bottger) 3:20.55 *

Men's 400-yard Freestyle Relay- Navy (Mac Anthony, Aaron Aiken, Nathan Durham, Alex Oldenkamp_ 2:58.39 **

* - Patriot League and League Championship Meet Record

** - Patriot League Championship Meet Record

# - Qualified for 2009 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships