THE BASICS:
-Event: Harold Anderson Invitational
-Results: 3rd of 6 Teams
-Location: Kingston, R.I. (@ The University of Rhode Island)
-The Lead: The Assumption College swimming and diving team broke three program records this weekend at the Harold Anderson Invitational hosted by the University of Rhode Island. The Hounds finished third of six teams as the only non-division I program in the competition while tallying nine top-three performances on the weekend. Several Hounds also completed the meet nationally ranked.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
-Sophomore Niamh Morgan (Bettystown, Ireland / Sacred Heart School) enjoyed a standout performance in the competition, claiming two first-place victories that included a new school record. Morgan broke her own record in the 200 IM with her time of 2:07.38 for her first-place finish in the event. She surpasses the old record of 2:07.99, which she set last season as a freshman on February 6, 2015.
-Morgan also finished first in the 400 IM with her season-best time of 4:32.11 and third in the 200 backstroke, touching the wall in 2:06.15.
-Freshman Shannon Quirk (Wakefield, Mass. / Wakefield Memorial) shattered the 1,650 freestyle record with her second-place finish in the event. She posted an impressive time of 17:22.60 to top the previous record of 17:39.34 set by junior Rachel Lanam (Sebastian, Fla. / Sebastian River) on February 8, 2015.
-Quirk also notched one more top-three finish in the 500 freestyle. She clocked a time of 5:06.70 for the bronze, just less than two seconds off of the Assumption record.
-Senior Victoria Weber (Augusta, Maine / Cony) also displayed an impressive performance on the weekend, collecting three individual top-three finishes and one relay finish. She placed second with her season-best time of 58.46 in the 100 backstroke and finished third in the 200 IM (2:10.07) behind Morgan.
-Weber also swam a career-best time of 58.51 in the 100 butterfly for third place among the strong competition and helped the Hounds' 200 medley relay team to a third place finish in 1:50.08. The squad consisted of Weber in the lead leg spot, junior Rachel Gagnon (Tolland, Conn. / Tolland), sophomore Courtney Barr (Waltham, Mass. / Matignon) and freshman Caroline Cole (Highland Mills, N.Y. / Monroe Woodbury).
-Freshman Ali Petrozza (North Andover, Mass. / Austin Preparatory School) notched a fourth-place finish in the 200 butterfly with her time of 2:10.59.
-URI earned the overall win on the weekend with a final score of 876, followed by Providence (771) and Assumption (547). Rounding out the teams were the University of Maine, Orono with 496.5, Bryant (479.5) and Holy Cross (287).
BEHIND THE RESULTS:
-Quirk's time in the 1,650 freestyle currently ranks her the fastest in the country. She now holds the top spot in the nation with her time of 17:22.60.
-As part of the 1,650 freestyle, Quirk also swam 1,000 yards of the freestyle stroke. Her time of 10:29.61 in the first 1,000 yards of the event also breaks the Assumption record for the 1,000 free, surpassing Quirk's previous record of 10:36.14. Her new 1,000 freestyle time ranks her 12th in the country.
-Three of Morgan's times on the weekend rank her in the top 15 in the nation. Her 200 IM ranks fifth in the country, her 400 IM time is good for ninth in the nation while her 200 back time is currently in 13th.
UP NEXT:
-The Hounds are set to return to action on Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 6 at the WPI Gompei Invitational. Last season, Assumption brought the win over 12 participating teams at the meet.
STAY CONNECTED:
-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.
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