Saint Francis Swimmers in Second Place After Day 2 at IUP

INDIANA, Pa. (Nov. 16, 2007) –Saint Francis University’s first-place finishes in the 200-yard medley relay and the 400 IM were the highlights of Day 2 at the Crimson Hawk Invitational.

The Red Flash sit in second place with 528 points, while the host Hawks are in first (557) followed by SFU, Youngstown State (420), Lock Haven (197), Mount St. Mary’s (169) and Slippery Rock (129).

The Red Flash won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1 minute, 52.39 seconds to earn 40 team points. Sophomore Elise Merrill (Carlisle, Pa. / Big Spring) started the race and was followed by sophomore Elyse Peterman (Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain), freshman Elyse Dobrick (Zelienople, Pa.) and sophomore Blair Kosela (Cresent, Pa. / Moon Area).

Sophomore Kristen Low (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada / Cawthra Park S.S.) won the 400 IM in 4:41.81. She was nearly five seconds faster than her nearest competitor.

Merrill also finished third in the 100 backstroke in 1:01.57, while Dobrick took third in the 100 butterfly (1:00.42) and freshman Melissa Heintz (Boyertown, Pa.) finished fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:58.27). Reigning Northeast Conference Swimmer-of-the-Week, Stefanie Hozempa (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) took fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.15).

The 800 freestyle relay team of Kosela, Hozempa, senior Sirae Riley (Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest) and Heintz also took second in the 800 freestyle relay with a time of 8:04.00.

The third, and final day, of the Crimson Hawk Invitational will take place on Saturday on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.