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Date: February 20, 2005
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Colby women's swimmers fourth at NESCAC meet, Burton honored

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. --- The Colby College women's swimming team trailed both Connecticut College and Tufts University by 1.5 points heading into the final event of the night at the New England Small College Athletic Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.

The difficult task was for Colby's 'A' and 'B' relay teams to beat both Conn and Tufts in both the championship and consolation final races. The Mules accomplished the mission and finished in fourth place at the NESCAC meet Sunday.

"Without question the 2005 season should mark the most successful in Colby women's swimming history," said Colby head coach Tom Burton, who was honored as NESCAC Women's Swim Coach of the Year.

Colby could head to the NCAA Division III Swimming Championships with up to eight swimmers in attendance. The Mules set numerous school records at the meet and got in the upper echelon of NESCAC swimming with the fourth place finish.

Here are the team final team standings: 1. Williams 1729 (fifth straight title); 2. Amherst 1431.5; 3. Middlebury 1337; 4. Colby 856.5; 5. Connecticut College 850; 6. Tufts 848; 7. Hamilton 772.5; 8. Wesleyan 692; 9. Bates 612; 10. Bowdoin 574; 11. Trinity 410.5.

Kelly Norsworthy continued her success in the breaststroke in her first NESCAC meet. She took second place in an NCAA 'A' cut qualifying time and school record of 2:21.02. Norsworthy finished in second three times at the meet to Williams senior Lindsay Payne, who won the race in 2:16.82. Annie Muir took eighth for Colby in the 200 breaststroke in 2:26.55.

The Mules picked up huge points in the 100 freestyle with three women in the championship final. Laura Miller took fourth in a school record 52.97, Meg Vallaly was sixth in 53.49 and Lilli Higgins was seventh in 53.55. Miller also raced in a 50 freestyle time trial on Sunday and set a school record at 24.24.

Colby's big finale in the 400 freestyle relay had the 'A' team of Vallaly, Beth Foxwell, Higgins and Miller taking fourth in a school record 3:31.93. The 'B' team of Kristi Boman, Weather Potdevin, Jocelyn Burke and Norsworthy took 15th overall in 3:43.20, but most importantly beat Tufts and Conn in the consolation final race to help the Mules take fourth overall at the meet.