02/24/2008
Women's Swimming & Diving Finish 8th at NEWMAC's; Rosen Breaks Records

Complete Results | Championship Web Site

WELLESLEY, MASS. 02/24/08 - Clark University's Elizabeth Rosen continued her tear on the record-books as she set a new school mark in the 1650-yard freestyle on the final day of competition at the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships on Saturday at Wellesley College.

The first-year swimmer placed third, the highest finish since 2002, with a time of 17:53.52, eclipsing the previous record set by Maggie Crowell 82 (18:06.09) in the 1980-81 season. Rosens 1,000-yard split (10:47.70) was also good for a new school record by just over 11 seconds. Overall, the North Attleboro, Mass., native finished the weekend with three new Clark marks, including a new record in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.01), and an all-time top-five finish (500-free/5:18.07).

Three other women swimmers scored points for Clark on Sunday. Dana Akerfelds (Bronxville, N.Y.) placed 12th in the 200-yard backstroke (2:20.99) and Kayleigh Lagasse (Pawtucket, R.I.) was 14th in the 200-yard butterfly (2:23.13), while teammate Gabrielle Asay (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) placed 16th in the event with a time of 2:30.17.

In relay events, the team of Rosen, Britney Wigley (Newport Beach, Cali.), Corri Stewart (Avon, Conn.) and Akerfelds placed 10th in the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:55.45.

The Cougars completed the championship weekend in eighth with 184 points  slipping from last years seventh place-187 point finish.

"Overall the team did well," said coach Paul E. Phillips. "Several people were dealing with sickness and/or injury, but did a great job of battling through."

"Although we fell short of our goal of scoring more points than the previous year, a majority of people posted career-best performances in the majority of their events," he added. "So all-in-all it was a very good weekend for our team."

Springfield College won its eighth straight NEWMAC title with 707.5 points.

The Clark men's swim and dive team are up next with their NEWMAC Championships this weekend at MIT.

Individual Point Scorers and/or Top-Five all-time

Liz Rosen 500 Free 5:18.07 (10th place, 2nd all-time), 200 Free 2:00.01 (9th place, School Rec), 1650 Free (3rd place, school rec)

Britney Wigley 500 Fr 5:20.32 (11th place, 3rd all-time), 1650 Fr 18:34.82 (10th place, 5th all-time), 200 Fr (15th place)

Dana Akerfelds 100 Back (9th), 200 Back (12th)

Kayleigh Lagasse 200 Fly (14th)

Gabbi Asay 200 Fly (16th)

Caitlin Hanson 400 IM (16th)

Lindsey Stone 50 Free 25.93 (5th all-time)

Relay Top 5's All Time

200 Free Relay 1:45.47 (5th all-time) Rosen, Stewart, Stone, Akerfelds

800 Free Relay 8:21.14 (5th all-time) Rosen, Lagasse, Stone, Wigley

400 Medley Relay 4:23.90 (5th all-time) Stewart, Moise, Lagasse, Stone