Jan. 15, 2010

PHILADELPHIA - Senior Shannon Duval won the 200 IM and was part of the winning 400 yard medley relay squad to lead the Explorers on the first day of competition at the Rhode Island Invitational. The Explorer women are currently in second place with 193 points, and the men are also in second with 154 points.

The quad meet includes host Rhode Island, Massaschusetts and George Washington. UMass holds the lead after day one on both the men's and women's sides with 225 and 216 points, respectively.

Duval posted a winning time of 2:07.61 in the 200 yard individual medley to garner 15 points for the Explorers, blasting past the competition by more than five seconds. Brittany Sedberry picked up third place in the event with a mark of 2:14.83.

The women's 400 yard medley relay squad earned the win by besting second-place UMass by nearly four seconds. Jess Carbin, Duval, Holly Biro and Liz Jordan combined to post a time of 4:00.23.

Emily Heath also earned gold as she posted a winning time of 5:03.66 in the 500 yard freestyle.

Biro and Jordan went 2-3 in the 50 yard freestyle with times of 25.23 and 25.39, respectively.

The Explorer men also posted solid performances with two relay silvers. The 400 yard medley relay squad of Ed Carnes, Blase Szyszko, Austin Thomas and Owen Black combined to post a time of 3:32.33 for second place.

Thomas, Black, Dustin Gibb and Kyle Goan also picked up second place in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a mark of 1:27.90.

In individual racing action, Zach Anderson and Brandon Hargraves went 3-4 in a field of 16 swimmers in the 500 yard freestyle. Anderson clocked a 4:50.76 with Hargraves right on his heel with a 4:51.88.

The Explorers return to action tomorrow to wrap up competition at the Rhode Island Invitational.