Oct. 31, 2008
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- The Colonial Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Pod Meet featuring Old Dominion, host James Madison, Northeastern, Drexel, and William & Mary got underway Friday afternoon with the ODU men's swimming and diving team earning five top finishes and the ODU women's swimming and diving squad taking three top times. The event will conclude on Saturday with eight more events scheduled.
On the men's side, the Monarchs kicked off the pod meet by taking home a victory in the 400 medley relay. The squad of sophomore Kristian Ramkvist (Bjarred, Sweden), freshman Arni Mar Arnason (Msfellsbaer, Iceland), senior Johan Lundberg (Fjaras, Sweden), and sophomore Steven Loccisano (Fredericksburg, Va.) swam their way to victory finishing the relay in a time of 3:29.07.
Arnason, a CAA Swimmer of the Week following the ODU men's victory over William & Mary, brought home another victory in the 100 breast. After breaking the Monarchs' 100 breast record in his first meet with the team two weeks ago agains the Tribe, Annason followed up his performance breaking the record yet again. He swam to a time 55.04, surpassing his previous record of 55.63. Old Dominion went one-two in the event as Anrason took the top time of 55.04 followed by teammate Josh Kinas (Reston, Va.) in second place with a time of 58.56. Kinas tied his personal best which is 10th on the ODU's all-time list.
Arnason added to his list of victories later in the meet with a victory in the 50 free with a time of 20.63. His time helped him move up the ODU all-time list. Previously logging a time of 21.03 against William & Mary for 10th on the all-time list, he moved up into second behind Matt Craven's top time in the event of 20.35 recorded in 1998.
Junior Kevin Latimer (Newport News, Va.) won his first event of the 2008 season. Latimer hit the wall in 1:56.61 in the 200 fly.
After taking second in the 100 breast, Kinas would place first in the 400 IM. Kinas' time of 4:13.10 edged out teammate Latimer, who placed second, clocking in at 4:14.21.
On the women's side, sophomore April Barrientos (Va. Beach, Va.) gave the women its first top place finish in an event in the 100 back. Barrientos was one of two competitors to clock in under a minute's time recording a finish in 58.38.
Freshman Erla Dogg Haraldsdottir (Njardvik, Iceland), the CAA Swimmer of the Week two weeks ago, continued her winning ways in the 100 breast, logging a time of 1:05.19. Haraldsdottir's performance helped her move up on the Lady Monarchs' all-time chart. She moved up from sixth on the list into second on the all-time list right behind Nancy Horvatic, who is the Lady Monarchs' all-time 100 breast leader, having recorded a time of 1:04.91 back in 1984.
Madeline Stiles (Fairfax, Va.) gave the Lady Monarchs another first place finish with her performance in the 400 IM and also moved on the Old Dominion top times list. The rookie swimmer posted a time of 4:36.04 good enough for 10th all-time in ODU history.
At press time, men's and women's diving results were not available.
Action continues tomorrow with the Monarchs and Lady Monarchs taking part in the 200 medley relay, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breast, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 IM, and 400 freestyle relay.