02/04/2009
Garcia Qualifies for NCAA's & Lifts Women's Swim & Dive to Win Over WPI

WORCESTER, MASS. 2/4/09 - Freshman Eileen Garcia (New York, N.Y.) captured the 1-meter diving event and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships, as she led the Clark University women's swimming and diving team to a 129-102 win over WPI in a dual-meet at the Kneller Athletic Center pool on Wednesday evening. It marks the first time a Clark swimmer or diver has qualified for the national meet since 1988.

Clark's women raise their record to 6-2 overall, while the Clark men, which lost to the Engineers, 132-103, fall to 4-3 on the season.

Garcia also won the 3-meter dive (245.50).

Freshman Erin Smith (Carrollton, Tx.) and sophomore Liz Rosen (North Attleboro, Mass.) were both double-winners for Clark in swim events. Smith won the 50-yard freestyle (25.74) and the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.79), while Rosen prevailed in the 500- (5:29.96) and 1,000-yard freestyle (11:07.58) events. Junior Dana Akerfelds (Bronxville, N.Y.) claimed the victory in the 100-yard backstroke (1:05.97).

The 200-yard medley relay team of Akerfelds, Morgan King (Arlington, Mass.), Kayleigh Lagasse (Pawtucket, R.I.) and Smith took first in a time of 2:02.05.

Sophomore Dan Howard (Bow, N.H.) picked up a win in the 200-yard individual medley (2:12.23) for the Clark men. He also finished second in the 100-yard butterfly (56.54). Other runner-up finishers included, Taylor Morono (New London, N.H.) in the 100-freestyle (52.91) and 1,000-freestyle (11:32.43); Jeff Amari (Braintree, Mass.) in the 50-yard free (24.56) and Lamar Duffy (Pen Argyl, Pa.) in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.38).

In diving, freshman Sam Moody (Ellington, Conn.) won the 1-meter event with 216.55 points.

Both Clark teams will host Gordon College for their Senior Day on Saturday (1 p.m.).