Feb. 21, 2008

BUFFALO, N.Y. - On his 21st birthday, junior Patirck McGrath started the day off right by breaking the Xavier school record in the 500 Freestyle event during the preliminary round on day two of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championship at the Flickinger Center. Freshman Kari Peglar also posted a new school-record time in the 500 Freestyle event.

Peglar opened the day's events with a 4:58.45 school-record time in the 500 Freestyle to make her the second seed heading into tonight's finals. Freshman Lindsay Barton qualified in fifth (5:03.94) and junior Mary Catherine Mahon earned a spot in the consolation final with her time of 5:07.06.

McGrath's school record time of 4:34.15 earned him the number one spot in tonight's 500 Freestyle championship final and he will look to be the second Musketeer in three years to earn the gold medal in this event (Nico Lilly, 2006). Freshman Nathan Green also qualified for the championship final as the fourth seed in the 500 Freestyle (4:34.41) and freshman John Roof will swim as the 15th seed in the consoaltion final (4:42.23).

In the women's 200 IM, juniors Alissa Schriner and Amber Thompson along with sophomore Kelsey Burns all qualified for the consolation final.

Junior Jake Burke will compete in the consolation final for the 200 IM on the men's side.

Freshman Bethanie Griffin led four XU women's swimmers who qualified for tonight's finals in the 50 Freestyle event. Griffin (23.97) is seeded third while sophomore Elaina Suba and freshman Ashley Sohngen are tied at seventh (24.23). sophomore Alison Johnson will compete in the consolation final with a 10-seed (24.25).

In the men's 50 Freestyle, senior Matt Krouse will be seeded 10th (21.43) for the consolation final along with freshman Terence Mahon who is seeded 14th (21.54).

Tonight's action begins at 6:30 p.m. from the Flickinger Athletic Center on the campus of Erie Community College. The finals of both the men's and women's 200 free relays will also be contested tonight. The meet will be video streamed live through the Atlantic 10 website. Fans can subscribe beginning Thursday, Feb. 21, for the cost of $9.95 per day or purchase a three-day subscription for $20.95.