University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Swim Heads To NE Open
February 04, 2010 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 4, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - With the Atlantic 10 Championship on the horizon, the UMass women's swim team will compete in one final meet as they head to the New England Open hosted by Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. this Saturday, Feb. 6. The Minutewomen are coming off back-to-back losses in dual meets to Colgate and Fordham, but finished first in their last invitational meet at the Rhode Island Invite, beating out La Salle and George Washington. Head Coach Bob Newcomb hopes to have the team swimming their best before heading to A-10s Feb. 17 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Last Time Out
The Minutewomen are coming off a loss to the Rams of Fordham University on Jan. 30, 188-112. The Rams are projected to win the Atlantic 10 this season and are undefeated on the year. The women gave a strong effort, including a great race swam by freshman Julie Magyar in the 1000 free, coming from behind in the final two laps to beat out Fordham's Megan McGorry to win the event with a time of 10:34.53.
Record Breakers
The Minutewomen had some outstanding performances at the Terrier Invitational, including school records being broken by Chelsea Downing and Amina Meho.
Downing broke two UMass school records on her way to being named Atlantic-10 Performer of the Week. The sophomore shattered two longstanding UMass records in the 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle. The Falmouth, Mass native swam a time of 4:58.58 in the 500, breaking the previous record of 5:01.17 that was set back in 1995. She broke another 14-year old record later in the weekend, swimming a 17:10.78 in the 1650, breaking the old record by almost two seconds. Downing also sandwiched in a fifth-place finish in the 400 IM, finishing with a time of 4:31.59.
Meho played a major role in the Minutewomen third-place finish, helping the team score in six different events as she earned Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week honors. The freshman started the weekend by breaking the UMass school record in the 50 freestyle with a blistering time of 23.55 to take sixth-place in the event. Meho then put a close to the weekend in the 100 freestyle, finishing fourth with a time of 51.76. The Burlington, Mass native was an integral part of four different relay teams, swimming the anchor leg in every relay during the weekend. Meho helped the 200 free, 800 free and 400 medley teams to third-place finishes, while assisting the 200 medley to fourth.
Swiftly Making an Impact
Sophomore Hannah Swift has quickly become the top diver for the Minutewomen, recording a total of 12 first-place finishes this season. Swift recorded her best score in the three-meter dive in the squad's last meet against Fordham, putting up a score of 241.05 to claim first. In the one-meter dive, the Newark, Del. native has a top season score of 251.40 coming back on Dec. 5 at Northeastern.
Last Time at Chestnut Hill
The Minutewomen knocked-off host Boston College the last time they visited Chestnut Hill, defeating the Eagles in a dual meet on Jan. 23, 174.5-125.5. Sarah Kanellas and Julie Magyar were both able to record two-win days, as Kanellas won both the 100 fly and recorded a personal best time in the 200 fly (2:11.91), while Magyar took the 1000 free (10:40.06) and 500 free (5:10.84) events. Swift continued her cominance on the diving board with victories in both the one and three-meter events. UMass won 12 of the 16 total events on the day.
Next Up
The Minutewomen will prepare for the final meet of the season, as they look to capture the A-10 title at the Atlantic 10 Championships Feb. 17-20 in Buffalo, N.Y.