December 6, 2009
Glasser Leads WC to Third Place at F&M Invite
Junior Qualifies for NCAA's, Wins Three Events,
Breaks Four School Records & One Conference Record

LANCASTER, PA - Junior Rachel Glasser (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) won three individual events, broke four school records and one Centennial Conference record, and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships to lead the way for the Washington College women's swim team at the Franklin & Marshall Invitational, held yesterday and today in Lancaster, PA. The Shorewomen finished third of 13 teams overall at the event with 354 points, outpacing fellow Centennial teams Gettysburg (fourth, 325 points), Franklin & Marshall (fifth, 315), and McDaniel (11th, 90).

Glasser swam an NCAA Division III Championship automatic qualifying time of 2:04.20 to win the 200 butterfly. She won the 100 butterfly in a school and conference-record time of 56.72 and the 500 freestyle in a school-record time of 5:00.21. Glasser finished the meet by posting the fastest time in the 1650 freestyle as an exhibition entrant, finishing in a Washington College school-record time of 17:24.94. She also broke the school record for the 1000 freestyle during her 1650 swim, covering the first 1000 yards in 10:32.38. Glasser's times in the 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle, and 1650 freestyle events were NCAA provisional qualifying times. Glasser also swam an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:54.61 for the 200 freestyle while leading off the Shorewomen's 800 freestyle relay. Her performance in that lead-off leg also made her the Shorewomen's third-fastest swimmer ever in the 200 freestyle.

Senior Kathy Gerhart (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area) posted top-three finishes in all three of her individual events. She placed second in the 200 freestyle in 1:56.71 to become Washington's fifth-fastest swimmer ever in the event and was also second in the 100 freestyle in 53.54. She was third in the 50 freestyle in 24.65 and also led off the 400 freestyle relay with a 53.36, the Shorewomen's fastest 100 freestyle time of the season.

Freshman Melanie Craig (Newtown, PA/Council Rock) placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:09.31 to become the Shorewomen's fifth-fastest swimmer ever in the event and 10th in the 200 breaststroke in 2:34.84 to become WC's ninth-fastest swimmer in that event. She also tied for 27th in the 200 individual medley in 2:22.93. Sophomore Jenna Moore (Catonsville, MD/Mount de Sales) was sixth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:09.54, 12th in the 200 breaststroke in 2:36.04, and ninth in the 50 freestyle in 25.33.

Senior Amy Smith (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area) finished ninth in the 100 backstroke in a WC season-best time of 1:03.29 and 14th in the 200 backstroke in a WC season-best time of 2:17.77. She was also 21st in the 500 freestyle in 5:29.26. Freshman Sarah Sykes (Haworth, NJ/Northern Valley-Demarest) was 11th in the 400 individual medley in a WC season-best time of 4:58.14, eighth in the 1650 freestyle in 18:34.13, and 20th in the 500 freestyle in 5:28.20. Her time in the 1650 freestyle made her the Shorewomen's seventh-fastest swimmer ever in that event. Sophomore Morgan Phillips (Charlottesville, VA/Albemarle) was 13th in the 100 backstroke in 1:04.04, tied for 27th in the 50 freestyle in 26.39, and 28th in the 200 backstroke in 2:25.24. Sophomore Mary Stroman (Bala Cynwyd, PA) placed 13th in the 200 freestyle in 2:01.81 and 19th in the 100 freestyle in 57.86.

The Shorewomen also excelled in the relay events. Gerhart, Moore, Phillips, and Glasser were second in the 200 freestyle relay in a WC season-best time of 1:40.48. Smith, Moore, Glasser, and Gerhart were second in the 400 medley relay in a WC season-best time of 4:01.42 and third in the 200 medley relay in a WC season-best time of 1:50.73. Glasser, Sykes, Phillips, and Stroman were fourth in the 800 freestyle relay in 8:08.50. Gerhart, Moore, Phillips, and Stroman were fifth in the 400 freestyle relay in a WC season-best time of 3:44.96.

The College of New Jersey won the meet with 653.5 points, while Division II Kutztown was second with 606.5.

The Shorewomen return to action Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. dual meet at Widener.

EVENT RESULTS