ECAC MEET SITE | RESULTS SITE
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Last season, the LIU Brooklyn women's swimming team made an impressive debut at the ECAC Winter Championships, finishing in fourth place, while garnering two gold medals at the three-day meet held at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow, N.Y. This year, the Blackbirds have set their sights even higher when they dive into the final event of 2018 at the ECAC Championships from Friday, November 1 to Sunday, December 3.
The three-day meet begins with the Friday night session beginning at 6:00 p.m. Then on Saturday, the meet continues with a day session at 10:00 a.m. and a night session, beginning at 6:00 p.m., before wrapping up with a single session on Sunday also at 10:00 a.m. See below for ticket information.
"The season so far has been tremendous to see how this team has taken to racing, the first half schedule was grueling and time after time, these ladies have answered the bell," said LIU head coach Matt Donovan. "The meet experiences that we have had for the past few months will give a great deal of confidence on the blocks this weekend. All the hard work is behind us and now we get to race. This is why we do all those six A.M.'s and doubles. Now we get to suit up and go fast. We are coming for what we have earned."
The Blackbirds (8-2) are off to the best start in school history, recording eight wins for the first time in the four years of intercollegiate swimming at LIU Brooklyn. Most recently, the team topped Lafayette, without the aid of senior co-captain Briana Vega, who was on the shelf for the weekend, due to rigorous meet schedule this season. Prior to that, Vega, the defending ECAC champion and co-record holder in the 50 freestyle (23.45), has started her final season right on track, with the second best time (24.11) in the sprint going into the ECACs.
Besides Vega, LIU's three other upper class swimmers, Mads Carrigan (100 breaststroke), Noemie Lacroix-Moreau (100 backstroke,100 butterfly) and Nathalie Meyers (100 backstroke) are looking to get on the podium in their signature events at the event.
Two sophomores, Amanda Peren and Jeanne Touchette-McGowan also had big results as freshmen at the ECAC Championships. Peren earned a silver medal in the 100 backstroke and bronze in the 200 backstroke, while Touchette-McGowan took the silver medal in the 200 backstroke, edging out her own classmate on the podium. This year, Peren hopes to compete for the podium in both backstroke events and the 200 individual medley, while Touchette-McGowan enters the event with the second best entry time in the 400 individual medley.
The breakout performer this season for the Blackbirds this season has been freshman Amanda San Juan, who has been named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week four times since October. Already the best distance swimmer in program history, she enters the ECAC with top five times in all three distance races, 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles, and figures to get on the medal stand in her first collegiate championship event this weekend.
LIU also figures to make noise in relay events, with five on the schedule, as the team placed two relays on the medal stand last year with a second place showing in the 400 medley relay and a third place performance in the 400 freestyle relay.
The team also features four more sophomores and five additional freshman, who have each had success in the first half of the season and this weekend may provide an opportunity to shine, according to their coach.
"The best part about these meets is that there is always someone that is just a bit under the radar that completely breaks out and wows us," said Donovan. "It's like a great action movie – you never know where or when the best action is coming. Get your popcorn ready, these Blackbirds are about to put on a show!"
TICKET INFORMATION
Championship Pass (Adult) - $55.00
Single-Day Pass (Adult) - $20.00
Seniors/Kids (10 yrs and younger) Championship Pass - $25.00
Seniors/Kids (10 yrs and younger) Single-Day Pass - $10.00