(Posted November 20, 2004)

Huntingdon, Pa.? For the second time this season the Juniata College women?s swimming team battled to a close decision with one of the top teams in the conference, but fell just shy of pulling out the victory. This time the Eagles dropped a tight 104.5-100.5 decision to the defending conference champions the University of Scranton in Huntingdon Saturday afternoon.

Juniata is now 5-2 on the season, with the two dual-meet losses coming to the teams that finished first and second at the MAC Championships last season. The Eagles have a 3-2 record this season against conference foes.

Juniata earned seven first-place finishes in the meet including a record-breaking performance in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Dana Gais (Kiski Area/Saltsburg), Amy Sutherland (Norwich/Norwich, N.Y.), Kathy Trainor (Upper Merion/King of Prussia) and Amy Hanson (Lancaster Catholic/Elizabethtown) won the event in a time of 4:13.43 which broke a pool record that was established in 1989?the first year of varsity swimming at Juniata.

That foursome also notched some solid swims in individual events, with Sutherland leading the way. The sophomore broke the school and pool record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:29.77. The effort was good for a first-place finish, but also was a provisional NCAA qualifying time. She also claimed a victory in the 200 freestyle in the meet.

Gais also picked up a first-place finish as she swam to a win in the 200 IM and finished second in the 200 backstroke. Her times in both events were just shy of lifetime best swims.


Trainor earned a pair of first-place swims as she claimed victories in the 50 and 100 freestyle races. Her times should rank among the top times in the conference this season.

Juniata final first-place finish was captured by Jenny Bair (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) who touched the wall first in the 200 breaststroke. Her time of 2:51.20 was more than 11 seconds better than the second-place finisher. She also notched a third-place finish in the 200 IM.

Allison Engle (Shippensburg/Shippensburg) recorded the only runner-up finish for the Blue and Gold as she finished second in the 800 freestyle, just six seconds off the winning pace.

Juniata will return to action December 4 as the Eagles will welcome Bryn Mawr for a non-conference dual meet.

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