02/28/2009
Men's Swim & Dive Boasts Big Day Two at NEWMAC Championships

NORTON, MASS. 2/28/09 - Freshman Ryan Garr broke his own 100-yard backstroke school record for the fourth time this season and second time this weekend, as well as earned an NCAA provisional standard in the event on day two of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's swimming and diving championships held at Wheaton College's Balfour Natatorium.

After setting a new Clark mark in the 100-back in yesterday's lead leg of the 400 medley relay, Garr surprised us again with a third place and NCAA "B" cut time of 52.55 in the race. His third place finish marked the highest placing of any Cougar swimmer this weekend.

Senior Drew Jackson also had another stellar performance, breaking a school record in the 200-yard freestyle (10th/1:44.55). He has played a part in setting five Clark records, including three relays, through Saturday's competition.

Freshman Cooper Hart and sophomore Dan Howard, who were sandwiched between lead-off swimmer Garr and Jackson, the anchor, made up the seventh place and new Clark record-holding 200-yard medley relay team (1:39.17). Earlier in the day, Hart placed 13th in the 100-breaststroke (1:02.22), which was good for third on the school's all-time record board.

Also moving up in Clark's chronicles was the 800-yard freestyle group of Lamar Duffy, Curtis Reid, Taylor Morono and Brian Walsh, who placed seventh (7:23.55) in the event and third on the Cougars all-time board. Howard, Tim O'Keefe, Josh Yocum and Jeff Amari added some key points with their 11th place finish in the 800-free relay (7:45.84).

Sal Pezzella, Mark Stabile and Sam Moody took the 4-5-6 spots in the 1-meter diving competition. Pezzella registered 373.50 points and earned second all-time for Clark; Stabile compiled 365.65 points, while Moody gathered 348.20 points, which garnered them third and fifth, respectively, on the university's all-time diving board.

Clark concluded the day in sixth with 225 points.

Team Standings

1. MIT, 677

2. Coast Guard, 534.5

3. Springfield, 415

4. WPI, 252

5. Wheaton, 239

6. Clark, 225

7. Babson, 181.5

Clark Records

2/27/09

Prelim: 200-yard freestyle relay  8th/1:28.04 (Garr, Duffy, Hart, Jackson)

Jackson: 500-yard freestyle (5th/4:44.80)

400-yard medley relay  5th/3:35.52 (Garr, Hart, Howard, Jackson)

Garr: 100-backstroke (52.72)

2/28/09

200-yard medley relay  7th/1:39.17 (Garr, Hart, Howard, Jackson)

Jackson, 200-yard freestyle (1:44.55)

Garr: 100-yard backstroke (3rd/52.55)