Oct. 17, 2009

Final Stats

Contact: Renee Adam

Loretto, Pa. - The Cleveland State women's swimming and diving team competed in their first dual meet of the season against Saint Francis (PA) this afternoon, setting four pool records in six individual first place finishes and one relay victory. Despite the new records, the Vikings fell short, dropping to Saint Francis, 150-110.

"I thought we swam really well today for not having a full team due to illness," head coach Wally Morton said. "For many of the swimmers this was their first collegiate meet, and the first time that they have swam in a 25 yard pool, but all-in-all they did a great job of showing their skills in the first meet of the season."

Not only did the CSU team set pool records during the meet today, but they also had four swimmers set top-10 school times in seven different events. Joanna Olsson led the way with three top-10 times in the 1,000 free (4th), 200 fly (5th) and the 200 IM (6th). Alice Sommerville recorded a fifth place all-time finish in the 100 fly and an eighth place all-time finish in the 100 free. Carys Behn and Michelle Ferro each set a top-10 time in the 200 free (9th) and the 200 back (10th) respectively. The 200 medley relay team of Ferro, Sommerville, Behn and Emily Simard also recorded a fifth place all-time finish.

Freshman Joanna Olsson was one of the standout swimmers of the meet, winning all of her individual events for CSU including the 200 IM (2:10.49), 1,000 free (10:35.21) and 200 fly (2:09.05). She was the first Viking to set a Stokes Pool record during the meet with her 200 fly time.

Olsson was also part of the Stokes Pool record setting 800 free relay team that finished first with a time of 8:00.60. The relay shattered the old pool record by more than 30 seconds. Joining her on the relay were Carys Behn, Michelle Ferro and Jamie Puls.

Olsson's classmate Alice Sommerville had a great first meet, winning back-to-back events, breaking Stokes Pool records in both races. The records came in the 50 free (24.54) and the 100 free (53.21).

Behn also recorded an individual victory, winning the 500 free race in a time of 5:13.14, beating out the second place finisher by more than six seconds.

Freshmen Jamie Puls and Emily Simard had great races today for the Vikings as well, Puls setting career best dual meet times in the 50 (25.79), 100 (56.33) and 200 (2:02.21) free. While Simard finished second in the 100 breast after barely getting out touched with a time of 1:10.28.

"We learned a lot about the team during the meet today in regards to who can fill in for us when we need someone to step up," Morton said. "Many swimmers had to swim in multiple events since we had to shuffle the lineup around from some swimmers being sick, but they did a great job and are great competitors for filling in for their teammates."

The Vikings will return to action next Saturday (Oct. 24) when they host Green Bay in their first home meet of the season. The meet will start at 12:00 noon in Busbey Natatorium.