Feb. 24, 2010

Chris Grady

February 19, 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md.- For Navy swimmers Tara Chapmon and Mac Anthony being the fastest swimmer in the Patriot League in the 200-yard freestyle is not wishful thinking, but an expectation.

Chapmon and Anthony successfully defended their titles in their respective sections of the event at the Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md. on Friday night.

This win marks the ninth individual event Chapmon has won at the league championship in her four years. It also makes Chapmon the first Patriot League swimmer to win the 200-yard freestyle four years in a row.

Navy swimmers took the top three spots in the women's section of the event, and first second and fourth in the men's section.

Behind the Navy women, Army junior Corri Payne placed fourth with a time of 1:52.26, which was 2.27 seconds behind Navy senior Thuy-Mi Dinh. Payne's time is her fastest of the season.

Chapmon's time of 1:46.17 broke her own Patriot League and championship meet record of 1:46.26, set at the championship meet last year. However, she said she had hoped to have a slightly faster time on Friday. The closest swimmer to Chapmon was her teammate junior Allison Ranzau who posted a time of 1:49.30.

Chapmon was able to open up her lead over Ranzau from 1.34 seconds to 3.13 seconds in the final 50 yards of the event.

The three time All-Patriot League swimmer attributes her success to her coaches. "I just do whatever they tell me," Chapmon said.

She also said that the 200-yard freestyle is her favourite event to compete in.

While her individual time was important to her, Chapmon said that her main goal was to help win the league championship for her teammates.

Navy freshmen Danielle Reminger and Katie Davidson placed ninth and tenth respectively in the consolation final of the women's section of the event as well. In total, Navy accounted for six of the 16 swimmers in the final heats in the women's section.

Friday's win is Anthony's fourth individual event victory at the championship meet in two years. With the win he became the first male Patriot League swimmer to win the event in consecutive years since 2002.

"The 200 free is a good combination of my speed and endurance," Anthony said. Anthony, a sophomore and a 2009 All-Patriot League selection, won the event for the second consecutive year with a time of 1:37.23. Friday's time was .94 seconds slower than his Patriot League and championship meet record of 1:36.29 that he set last season.

Anthony said he hopes to improve on that time.

Anthony trailed teammate junior Aaron Aiken by .43 seconds after the first 100 yards. Aiken ended up finishing third with a time of 1:40.20. Bucknell sophomore Matt Segar finished in second with a time of 1:38.50.

"I like to take it out easy. I go into fifth gear after the first 100 yards," Anthony said.

Anthony said he was able to stay focused after winning the event in his freshman because his goals extend beyond being the best in the Patriot League. Anthony said he is more focused on bettering his own times than simply beating his competitors.

He said he is hopeful for the future after he was disappointed that he failed to qualify for this year's NCAA Championships. Chapmon and Anthony both posted the fastest times in their preliminary heats for the event.

The Navy women's sweep of the top three places in the event added 53 points to their total of 592, which was good for first place after the second day of competition.

The Navy men, who are pursuing a seventh straight league championship, led the men's section of the championship with 670 points as of Friday night.