Swim & Dive Takes Three at UCONN
CCSU's swim and dive team now preps for the NEC Championships at MIT on Feb. 27-Mar. 1.
The Central Connecticut swimming and diving team competed at the University of Connecticut Open on Saturday in Storrs, CT. The Blue Devils earned three first-place finishes, kicked off in the first event of the day by senior Taylor Friedmann, who gold medaled in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:03.08. CCSU also took two bronze medals to total five top-three finishes for Central on the day.
In addition to Friedmann's win in the event, the Blue Devils boasted four more swimmers in the top ten. CCSU took fourth, fifth and sixth in the race with junior Kasey Chilton touching the wall in 5:12.59, sophomore Karen Novak in 5:13.35 and senior Lauren Shortell in 5:15.88. Novak's time was just under two seconds faster than her previous season-best. Senior Christine Smith rounded out the bunch, touching the wall in 5:18.95 for eighth of 19.
In the 200 yard IM, senior Katie Lang took the second victory of the day for Central. She paced the race and touched the wall in 2:10.91. Lang finished just under two seconds behind second-place Gillian Walsh of Boston College and was followed by classmate Lauren O'Kelly who touched in 2:14.65 for sixth place and a new season-best time in the event. Also competing in the 200 IM was junior Kathryn Kiely who placed 11th (2:16.57).
The final gold performance by the Blue Devils came in the 200 yard backstroke. Senior Allison Rasile topped the field with a time of 2:07.55 and was followed by senior Hannah Packer in fourth (2:09.40). Packer earned a new season-best time in the event, cutting her previous time by over a second.
The Blue Devils earned two bronze medals on the day, one from junior Kellen Power in the 100 yard butterfly (59.51) and a season-best time of 24.68 from classmate Helene Neuhaus in the 50 yard freestyle.
Neuhaus was followed by junior Erin Massey in ninth who touched the wall in 25.39 and Power was trailed by freshman Selene Chilton in 12th (1:01.75).
Other notable Blue Devil performances came in the 100 yard backstroke where junior Kristina Gulia came in sixth with a time of 1:08.13 and was followed by freshman Alaina Papiro in 10th (1:10.81).
For complete meet results, click here.
With the regular season completed, Central will next gear up for the Northeast Conference Championships held in Boston, MA at MIT. Competition will begin Wednesday, Feb. 27 and continue through Friday, Mar. 1.
