The American University swimming & diving teams had their best day at the 2014 Patriot League Championships on day three of the conference meet, as 13 Eagles qualified for final events on Friday night.
The American men moved up one spot in the overall standings to seventh place with 124 points and are now just nine points back of Lafayette for sixth. The AU women stand in eight with 126 points – a 37 point advantage over Lafayette in ninth.
AU's impressive night after a day of preliminary races started with rookie swimmer Kaitie Kudlac who advanced to the finals in the 400 individual medley, placing fourth in the B-Final with a time of 4:30.04, which earned four team points for the Eagle women.
The Eagle men had two swimmers advance to the B-Final of the 400 IM as sophomore Dylan Rasnick and senior Sean Cudahy combined for eight team points for AU. Rasnick shaved nearly two seconds off his prelim time to finish 11th overall with a time of 4:00.01. Cudahy placed seventh in the heat at 4:06.03.
Another women's rookie made her first ever appearance in the Patriot League finals night, as Caylee Watson finished fifth in the B-Final with a time of 57.39 in the 100 butterfly. Watson also went on to qualify for the finals in the 100 backstroke, placing 14th overall at 57.62.
Sophomore Celeste Borras had one of AU's best performances thus far at the 2014 Championships, placing sixth overall in the 100 breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:05.50.
Junior Charlie Taffet advanced to the B-Final in the 100 breast for the men, finishing 14th overall at 57.29.
One of AU's best events of the evening was the men's 100 back. Three swimmers qualified for the B-Final of the event as senior Bobby Ballance won the heat with a time of 50.23. Junior Harrison Volaski and senior Matt Wurm were just behind, finishing 11-12 at 50.45 an 50.58, respectively.
Junior diver Melissa Parker represented the Eagles well on the one-meter board, registering a score of 236.40, to place eighth overall.
Men's Standings
1. Navy - 595.50 points
2. Boston University - 433
3. Army - 406
4. Bucknell - 310
5. Lehigh - 208
6. Lafayette - 133
7. American - 124
8. Loyola - 102.50
9. Colgate - 79
10. Holy Cross - 61
Women's Standings
1. Navy - 525 points
2. Bucknell - 431
3. Boston University - 385.50
4. Army - 365
5. Colgate - 227.50
6. Lehigh - 212
7. Loyola - 176
8. American - 126
9. Lafayette - 89
10. Holy Cross - 60
