June 13, 2006

College Park, Md. - Former Terrapin standout Elizabeth Lavell was the first woman out of the water at the 15th Annual Chesapeake Bay Swim on Sunday, finishing the race in about 1 hour and 37 minutes. The first open-water swim for Lavell, the 4.4 mile swim attracted more than 600 participants.

Lavell, a 2005 graduate of the University of Maryland, returned to the water in March to train for an Olympic bid with the Terps' head coach Dave Durden.

"For Liz to be in the water for only three months and perform at this level is very encouraging," said Durden, who recently completed his first season at the helm of the Terps. "We still have some work to do between now and 2008, but we are making steps in the right direction."

"That was some of the roughest water I've ever participated in," remarked Lavell. The Annapolis native said that she felt the event was one that she "should participate in at least once." Despite the rough conditions, she said that she looks forward to competing again next year.

The Chesapeake Bay Swim raised a record $175,000 for the March of Dimes and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.