Northridge Women in Charge at Nationals

AMHERST, N.Y. â€”  A national record in the 400-yard medley relay helped Cal State Northridge extend its lead Friday on the third day of the NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships.

Chris Breedy, Tina Schnare, Tina Dodson and Jeanna Giessinger combined for a time of 3:54.17, which beat the previous record of 3:55.10 set by CSUN in the morning prelims.

Northridge holds a 336-200 advantage over second-place Northern Michigan with only three individual events and one relay left on today’s schedule. CSUN could defend its team championship without showing up.

Cal State Bakersfield, two-time defending champion in the men’s competition, holds a 261-247.5 lead over Oakland (Mich.). Northridge is in fourth with 147.5 points.

Ted Hollahan was the only CSUN swimmer to win an event Friday, but he did it in spectacular fashion, shattering the national record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:37.37.

Bakersfield’s Bartt Frey, two-time champion in the event, was more than 2 seconds behind. He finished second in 1:39.44.

Hollahan had lost to Frey by .01 of a second in the final of the 200-yard freestyle last year at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

“He’s waited all year for a chance to do this,� Accardy said.

Hollahan covered the first 50 yards in 22.53--almost a second faster than any other swimmer.

“When he got out like that, there was just no way anyone was going to catch him,� Frey said.

Hollahan, a sophomore from Denver, will swim the 100-yard freestyle today. He will be matched against Hilton Woods of Oakland.

Woods, a freshman, won the 50-yard freestyle Wednesday in 20.23. Hollahan was third in 20.68.

Even without a winner, Northridge scored well in the women’s individual races. Giessinger was fourth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.57), one spot ahead of teammate Michelle Sulak (1:52.92).

Lisa Dial was second in the 400-yard individual medley (4:30.78), with teammate Carol Eisele in fourth (4:32.05). Breedy was fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (57.32).

CSUN was second behind Clarion in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:36.48).