Terps Boast Big Lead After Day One
11/18/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 18, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland swimming and diving team began the 2010 Terp Cup with a big splash Thursday, racking up large team leads on the men's and women's sides after one day of competition.
The men boast meet-high 352 points and a 70 point cushion over second place Connecticut heading into day two. The Terps began Thursday's evening session with a win in the 200 free relay as the unit of Mitch Challacombe, John Hauser, Matt Gruszecki and Andrew Relihan touched the wall first (1:21.83) and shaved nearly three seconds off its qualifying time.
Freshman John Hauser followed with a third place showing in the 500 free (4:32.21). Relihan racked up the men's first individual win with a first place performance in the 200 IM (1:49.14). Challacombe followed with a victory in the 50 free (20.47). The men finished by taking two of the top three spots in the 400 medley relay as Challacombe, Relihan, Roger Dent and Hauser were second (3:24.51) and Matt Meserole, Jeff Winters, Sean Stewart and Matt Gruszecki touched the wall third.
Maryland also commands the team standings on the women's side, leading second place Villanova 92 points. The Terps swept the relay action with the 200 free relay of Annie Fittin, Megan Lafferty, Blair Cross and Ginny Glover taking first (1:31.02) and Glover, Alexa Hamilton, Fittin and Lafferty capturing the 200 medley version (3:42.71).
Freshman Victoria Cassidy took third in the 500 free (4:52.34) and fellow classmate Jenni Roberts finished third in the 200 IM (2:03.30). The Terps dominated the 50 free with Fittin (22.65), Glover (22.81) and Lafferty (22.93) going 1, 2, 3 in the event.
Jessica Whelan took second in the 1-meter (250.20) and Eric Sachs finished third (248.10) in Thursday night's finals on the board.
Maryland will look to bolster its lead when as it heads into day two of action Friday, with preliminaries beginning at 10 a.m.
