Blue Devils End Competition At Frank Elm Invitational
Freshman Maddy Garber recorded a NCAA B cut qualifying time and set a new CCSU team and freshman record in the 200 yard breaststroke on the final day of competition at the Frank Elm Invitational.
The Central Connecticut swimming and diving team finished the final day of competition at the Frank Elm Invitational on Sunday afternoon in Piscataway, NJ. The Blue Devils finished the three day Olympic-style meet, hosted by Rutgers University, with 582 points, good for ninth place out of 12 teams. The Blue Devils were led by freshman Maddy Garber on day three, who recorded a NCAA B cut qualifying time and set a new CCSU team and freshman record in the 200 yard breaststroke.
Garber, a freshman from Milford, MA and two-time NEC Swimmer of the Week in her rookie campaign, touched the wall in second place in the 200 yard breaststroke. Garber finished with a time of 2:15.70 earning the silver medal and becoming the new CCSU team and freshman record holder in the process. She broke the team record previously held by Kristina Gulia who swam to a time of 2:16.89 at the 2014 NEC Championship meet. Garber's second place finish out of 40 swimmers in the finals heat was the best result from any Blue Devil on the weekend. Her effort also helped add 28 points to CCSU's team score.
Senior Helene Neuhaus also had a solid day in the pool for the Blue Devils. She recorded a fourth place finish out of 40 swimmers in the finals heat of the 200 yard backstroke and picked up 26 points for CCSU. Neuhaus swam to a time of 2:02.93, just 11 tenths of a second behind the third place swimmer, to earn her fourth place result.
Sophomore Sabree Thomas led the Blue Devils in the 200 yard butterfly. Thomas recorded a 13th place finish with a time of 2:08.96 and picked up 14 points for the Blue Devils. Junior Selene Chilton finished 21st overall for CCSU in the same event as she touched the wall with a time of 2:11.51 to earn four points for Central.
In the 100 yard freestyle, sophomore Christine Rasile led the way for CCSU. The Branford, CT native finished in 17th place with a time of 52.05 and added nine points to the Blue Devil team score.
Karen Novak recorded the best finish for CCSU in the mile freestyle event. The senior touched the wall in 18th place overall with a time of 17:36.40 to earn seven points for Central.
The Blue Devils continued to excel in the relay events on day three of competition at Rutgers. Neuhaus, Rasile, freshman Lauren Rasile and freshman Lauren Czulewicz anchored the CCSU 400 freestyle relay team that recorded a fifth place finish on the afternoon. The team swam to a time of 3:30.50 to pick up 50 points for CCSU in the last event of the invitational.
Northeastern won the Frank Elm Invitational with a team score of 1,533 points followed by Navy (1,284), Rutgers (1,085), Idaho (991) and Wagner (963) to round out the top-five. LIU Post finished sixth with a score of 797 followed by Columbia (661.5) and James Madison (657). Central was ninth with 582 points and finished ahead of New Hampshire (389.5), Sacred Heart (68) and The College of New Jersey (60).
The Blue Devils swimming and diving team will return to the pool for their next competition at the USA Winter Nationals in Greensboro, NC on the weekend of Dec. 4-6.