PHILADELPHIA - As summer ramps up and La Salle's student-athletes are taking time away from the court, field, pitch or pool, we have an opportunity to reflect on an entire school year's worth of triumphs. From Atlantic 10 Tournament appearances to Academic All-Americans and success on the local and regional level, La Salle student-athletes had much to be proud of in 2010-11. 

To that end, GoExplorers.com presents a summer web series of the Top 11 moments or accomplishments of the past school year. Every few days, a new "top moment" will be released. After the release of all 11, La Salle fans will have the opportunity to vote on which moment or accomplishment they think was the top one of 2010-11.

Today GoExplorers.com looks back on Austin Thomas's school record-breaking and gold medal performances in the 50-free, as well as the four women's relay record set by the Explorers at the Atlantic 10 Championships in February.

Thomas' feat in the 50-free was impressive because he not only broke a 29-year old school record - he smashed it.  Clocking a 20.42 in the event preliminaries at A-10s, Thomas bested Paul Jarvis' record of 20.73 set in 1982.

It's really a reflection of his hard work all season long," Nunnally said. "He was on track all year and was getting great feedback in terms of his dual meets. He was swimming faster and faster all season."  

He qualified first in the 50-free.  Thomas would get within three hundredths of a second of his record in the finals that evening, clocking a 20.45, to take the gold medal and earn first team All-A-10 honors. 

The Explorer women accomplished the feat of setting four school records in the five relay events they swam at the A-10 Championships.  Recent La Salle graduate Holly Biro swam on all four of the record-breaking teams.

"That's a nice reward for them and is great a reflection of the teamwork of the women this year," Nunnally said.  

The 400-free relay team of Biro, Katie Snee, Alex Stoddart and Elizabeth Jordan broke the record set at the 2010 championships by clocking a 3:26.06.  The group took third in the event.

Jessica Carbin, Jordan, Jessica Simunek and Biro swam a 1:44.31 to place fourth in the 200-medley relay and broke the school record of 1:44.95 set in 2009.

The 800-free relay team of Biro, Jordan, Adriana Correa and Emily Heath shaved nearly four seconds off of the school record, finishing in 7:32.25.  The Explorers placed fifth in the event.

    
Finally, the 200-free relay took second with a 1:34.70 and broke the school record set last season.  Biro, Snee, Stoddart andAubrey Cefalo made up the relay team.

Those accomplishments contributed to the Explorers' strong showing at the A-10 Champs.  After sitting in fourth through two days of competition, the men moved up into third place on day three and would keep that position.  The women finished the meet tied for fourth. 

Make sure to check GoExplorers.com throughout the summer for more Top 11 moments!