ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The American University women's 200-yard medley relay team cut two seconds off its previous season best to finish seventh and lead Eagle swims Wednesday on the first day of the Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships hosted by Navy.
The Eagles trimmed 10 seconds off their season-best in the women's 800 free relay and came within a second of the school record to place eighth.
Sophomore Connor Chidsey added 11 points to his career best in men's 3-meter diving, with his 171.10 placing 14th. He moved from 16th to 12th on AU's all-time list in the event.
American finished the day tied for sixth place in the women's team standings with 46 points, while the men were ninth with 39. Navy led both standings after the opening session, scoring 132 on the men's side and 80 for the women.
Thursday's preliminary heats begin at the LeJeune Hall pool at 10 a.m., with finals slated for 6 p.m.
EAGLE NOTES
* Three freshmen – Abby Longstaff, Alex Brosvik and Alex Feys - preceded senior sprinter Shannon Exley in the women's 200 medley relay. The quartet finished in 1:46.19.
* Senior Tori Haviland went a career-best 1:52.46 in the opening leg of the women's 800 free relay. She was followed by Ellie Kight, Ryan Jolley and Serra Aydan off the block. The mark of 7:36.87 was less than a second off the school record of 7:36.28, set in 2001.
* Matt Bean, Garrett Sooter, Liam Riebling and Scott Callander went 1:33.51 to place eighth in the men's 200 medley relay, finishing in a season-best 1:33.51. The Eagles went 1:35.84 at the Patriot Invitational at George Mason in the fall.
* Riebling's opening 200 freestyle leg of 1:44.31 in the men's 800 freestyle relay was the best by an Eagle this season and was a season-best by a full second. Sam Fromkin, senior Liam Bond and Rohan Singh followed him into the pool as they finished in a season-best 7:12.70.
