CCSU Wins 5 of 6 Events, Leads After Day One of NECs

The Central Connecticut women's swimming and diving team finds themselves in a familiar position after day one of competition at the Northeast Conference Championships at Yale University. The defending champion Blue Devils lead the way with 192 points, while Wagner and St. Francis (PA) are currently in second and third with 161 and 102 points, respectively. CCSU captured gold in five of the six events in day one action, with victories from Erin Crowley, Megan McGorry, Alex Czaplicki, Mallory Miller and the Central Connecticut 400 medley relay team.

Crowley won the 50 freestyle for the second straight year, touching in at 23.87 seconds. Her time, like every other event on the day, was faster than the 2008 NEC Championship winning time of 23.88. It also marked her fastest time of the season in the event.

CCSU took first, second and fourth in the 500 free, 200 IM and one-meter diving events. In the 500 free McGorry won the event with a lifetime best time of 4:53.78. Kandra Kane and Heather Vendetta also set personal best in the 500 freestyle, placing second and fourth, respectively. Kane timed in at 4:56.52, while Vendetta recorded a time of 5:02.28.

Another three career best times were set in the 200 IM. Czaplicki took gold in the event and improved on her school record, touching in at 2:03.68, while Alyssa Carlucci finished second and Kristen Malski took fourth. Carlucci timed in at 2:09.39, while Malski recorded a time of 2:11.40.

Like her Blue Devil teammates, Miller scored more points in the one-meter dive than the 2008 NEC Champion, recording a lifetime best 219.05. Fellow divers Sam Smolicz and Madison Vestergaard put up totals of 192.90 and 172.50 to finish second and fourth, respectively.

The CCSU 400 medley relay team set a pool record on Thursday. The team of Carlucci, Malski, Deirde Burke and Sarah Mahan touched in at 3:51.30. The previous record was held by last season' Blue Devil squad that swam a 3:55.24. The Central Connecticut 200 free relay team finished third in 1:40.80, while Wagner won the event.

The Blue Devils will take their lead into Friday's day two of competition which begins with prelims at 10:00 a.m. with finals to start at 6:00 p.m. at Yale University.