Complete ResultsCambridge, Mass. - February 16, 2013 - The Springfield College women's swimming and diving team's second day of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship was highlighted by a school-record performance in the 800 free relay.
After two days of competition, MIT has outdistanced themselves from the field, leading with 738 points. Springfield remains in second after earning 424 points thus far.
The Pride's 800 free relay team of Kelsey Poole, Callie Phillips, Ashleigh Monroe, and Kellie Pennington established a new program record after combining to swim a 7:39.33 to finish second in the event. The team just edged the record of 7:39.98 that was set in 2011 by Pennington, Aimee Doe, Kaitlin Reilly, and Caroline Kosciusko.
Springfield's 200 medley team of Poole, Nicolle Stracqualursi, Pennington, and Amanda Shaw also swam to a second-place finish in 1:47.36.
Individually, Phillips continued her outstanding championship, placing second in the 200 free with a time of 1:53.17, while Monroe took fifth in the same event after posting a 1:55.85.
In the 100 breast, the Pride had three of the top eight swimmers. Stracqualursi was the conference's runner-up, registering a time of 1:05.92. Teammate Janella Cuyler was sixth in 1:07.26, while Marley McFadden took eighth after touching in 1:08.52.
Bre Harrington had the Pride's top finish in the 400 IM, touching in 4:41.47 to earn sixth place, and Poole notched a seventh-place time in the 100 back with a 59.78. In the 100 fly, Pennington touched seventh in 58.83, followed by Poole in 59.46.
John Taffe enters his 25th season in 2013-2014 as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams at Springfield College. Under Taffe’s leadership, the Pride has returned to its status as one of the best collegiate swimming and diving programs in Division III.Read more.
Peter Avdoulos is regarded as one of the top diving coaches in the nation, and is entering his 28th season as the diving coach for both the men's and women's programs in 2012-2013. The current NEWMAC Men's and Women's Diving Coach of the Year, Avdoulos has coached countless All-New England and All-American divers, as well as several National Champions. Read more.