Day One in the Books at BIG EAST Championship

Wednesday, February 24

Nassau Aquatic Center Long Island, N.Y.

All Day

Xavier University

BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Championships

Day One in the Books at BIG EAST Championship

02.24.16 | Swimming

Men in first place; Women pick up pair of school records

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. – With a pair of racing events in the books at the BIG EAST Championships, the Xavier men stand in first place and the Musketeer women have two new school records.

The women opened the championship by setting a new school record in the 800 free relay, with Katie Kerr, Mackenna Rife, Taylor Jach and Molly Kroger finishing in 7:29.81 to take third place.

Paxtyn Drew, Becca Titterton, Caroline Gaertner and Claire Brolsma followed that up with another school record in the 200 medley relay, taking second with a time of 1:41.52.

The women collected 66 points to stand in fifth place after three events, including the one meter diving competition in which the Musketeers did not compete.

In their first event of the championship, the Xavier men collected a second place finish in the 800 free relay to open the meet, with Alex Wolfred, Rodrigo Suriano, Enrique Hernandez and Nick Foster touching the wall in 6:40.23, the second fastest time in school records for the event.

The Musketeers followed this up with a win in the 200 medley relay, with Erik Biernat, Michael Pettinichi, Knox Hitt and Luke Johanns posting a time of 1:29.50 to claim the BIG EAST Championship in the event.

Xavier collected 74 points, narrowly edging out Georgetown's 72 points for first place after two events.

The Musketeers return to the pool tomorrow morning for preliminary heats of the men's and women's 500 freestyle, 200 IM and 50 free, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Finals of those events, as well as the 200 free relay, are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.