NEW PALTZ, NY — The swimming and diving SUNYAC Championships wrapped up Saturday night and the women finished second, while the men took fourth. The women totaled 607 points to finish behind Geneseo’s 801 points. The New Paltz men finished with 472 points and were edged out of third place by two points, as Oswego posted 474 points. Geneseo won the team title with 892.5 points and Cortland finished second with 683.5 points.
Michelle Coombs won her third individual SUNYAC title by capturing the 100 free in a Bcut time of 51.83. First year Christine Rieth finished fourth in 54.32. First year Jessica Lester finished second in the 1650 free in 18:16.33 and sophomore Melinda Pullen took fifth in 18:33.91. The 400 free relay of Rieth, Allison Wells, Marissa Morris and Coombs set a new varsity record in a Bcut time of 3:33.51 for a second place finish. Morris touched eighth in the 200 back (2:16.72). Junior Joelle Hopf and first year Becky Baker finished sixth and seventh in the 200 breast in 2:29.93 and 2:32.41, respectively. Junior Erica Ellis captured seventh in the 200 fly (2:17.97) and senior Liz Ruggerio took eighth (2:20.79).
Sophomores Zack Lowenstein and Stephen Cozzolongo took second and third in the 200 back in 1:57.95 and 1:59.19 respectively. Lowenstein teamed up with Patrick Rathbun, Robb Webb and David Gardner in the 400 free relay for a fourth place finish in a time of 3:13.39, over eight second faster than their seed time. Senior Johnny Fleckenstein captured fifth in the 200 breast (2:15.56). David Gardner finished seventh in the 100 free (48.17) and Patrick Rathbun touched eighth (49.13), while Stefan Crain finished eighth in the 1650 free (17:40.70).
