Two school records fall on day one in Lewisburg

Thursday, February 19

Lewisburg, Pa.

10:30 AM

Lehigh University

Patriot League Championships

Two school records fall on day one in Lewisburg

2/19/2009 9:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Day one is in the books at the Patriot League Championships, with Lehigh’s men sitting in fifth place and the women sitting in sixth after one day of competition at Bucknell’s Kinney Natatorium. Lehigh senior Dan Johnson set a new school record in the 50 yard freestyle in Thursday’s morning session to lead the Mountain Hawks contingent. Johnson, however, had to settle for seventh place after Thursday night’s finals.

Johnson posted a time of 20.55 in Thursday morning’s preliminaries, breaking the school record by nearly two-tenths of a second. In the finals, Johnson challenged his earlier mark but settled for a time of 20.58 seconds and seventh place overall. Lehigh picked up key points in the 50 free with three place winners in the B-final. Juniors Ryan Guttormsen, Jon Westfield and Ben Dearden finished 11th, 13th and 14th respectively in the 50 free.

In other men’s action on Thursday, freshman Chris Toth finished 11th in the 500 free with a time of 4:35.40. The Mountain Hawks 400 medley relay team, consisting of Billy Dunne, Kevin McGrath, Ben Dearden and Guttormsen placed fourth with a time of 3:23.66, while freshman Ryan Helfrich led the Lehigh diving contingent with a ninth place showing in the three meter.

The Lehigh women were led by the 200 freestyle relay team, consisting of sophomores Kristen Keenan and Allison Montanye and freshmen Alena Pollitt and Paola Simon, who set a school record with a time of 1:36.50, which was good for sixth place.

Junior Allison Rolish placed seventh place in the 500 freestyle, with a time of 5:05.93 while sophomore Lauren Kindrick qualified for the B-final in the same event and finished 12th, with a finals time of 5:06.71.

In the 200 IM, senior Melanie Rolish placed 15th, with a time of 2:08.85. Lehigh also placed two swimmers in the B-finals in the 50 free, as sophomore Montanye took 14th and Simon placed 16th.

Lehigh’s 400 medley relay team consisting of Pollitt, Melanie Rolish, junior Julie Sicherman and freshman Priscilla Barletta placed sixth with a time of 3:55.58.

After one day of competition the Navy men have a comfortable lead over Army, while Colgate’s women enjoy a 15 point lead over Navy.

The Patriot League Championships continue Friday at 10:30 a.m. from Bucknell’s Kinney Natatorium.

Men’s Team Standings