FULL RESULTS

BOSTON, Mass. (Feb. 19, 2011) – Saint Francis University struck gold in the four of the evening's seven events on Saturday to claim the 2011 Northeast Conference Swimming & Diving Championship. The Red Flash posted their second consecutive league title by accumulating 791 points, blowing away last year's point total of 556.5.

Central Connecticut State, which entered the meet's final day clinging to a two-point lead, finished second with 759. Wagner (570), Bryant (423), Sacred Heart (294), Mount St. Mary's (253) and St. Francis (N.Y.) (147) rounded out the finishers.

"I am so proud of how this team came together and pulled this out," said SFU head coach Patrick Gallagher.  "Going into the final night, we needed to have a perfect session."

"It is going to take a while for this one to sink in."

Freshman Megan Collins (Monroeville, Pa./Oakland Catholic) and junior Bethany Lanzendoen (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) took first and second place in the 1,650-yard freestyle to kick-start the day's events. Collins swam a 17:03.39 in the event, while Lanzendoen was close behind with a swim of 17:16.29.

Alicia Ford (Whitney Point, N.Y./Whitney Point) followed suit in the 100-yard freestyle, adding her first individual gold medal of the meet with a time of 51.03. In the very next event, Elise Löfgren (Molnlycke, Sweden/Hulebacks) set a new conference record by completing the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:16.50.

While freshman Libby Francis (Dundee, Scotland/Grove Academy) fell short in her quest for a second individual championship, her second-place time of 2:05.20 in the 200-yard butterfly notched 17 points for the Red Flash. Saint Francis swimmers also placed fourth, fifth, sixth and 10th in the event to rake in another 49 points.

"We don't compete in diving and Central Connecticut was going to finish 1-2-3 in the second-to-last event of the night, the three-meter board," explained Gallagher.  "You can't make that up in one event, it has to come in pieces throughout the night.  If one piece falls through, it doesn't happen.  Everyone stepped up and came through."

Saint Francis wrapped up its title by posting another conference record in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Red Flash squad of Hanna Yttring (Gothenburg, Sweden/Katrinelundsgymnasiet), Melissa Heintz (Boyertown, Pa./Oley Valley), Jenny Demjanenko and Ford swam a blistering 3:28.20 for the win.

In all, the Red Flash won eight events – narrowly besting last season's seven gold-medal performances. Saint Francis set four new Northeast Conference records during the three-day event. 

Löfgren - who won two gold medals and a silver - was named 'Outstanding Rookie of the Meet.'


Saint Francis' 2011 NEC Swimming & Diving Individual Champions
400 Medley Relay – Saint Francis (Wilhite, Löfgren, Francis and Ford), 3:47.94 %
200 Medley Relay – Saint Francis (Yttring, Löfgren, Francis and Ford), 1:44.53 %
100 Fly - Libby Francis (Dundee, Scotland/Grove Academy), 55:71
100 Breast - Elise Löfgren, 1:03.23
1,650 Free – Megan Collins (Monroeville, Pa./Oakland Catholic), 17:03.39
100 Free – Alicia Ford (Whitney Point, N.Y./Whitney Point), 51.03
200 Breast – Elise Löfgren, 2:16.50 %
400 Free Relay – Saint Francis (Yttring, Heintz, Demjanenko and Ford), 3:28.20 %

     (%)  Denotes NEC record