Senior Meghan Hartman has done something that no other RPI swimmer has done before. She won the 200 yard breaststroke at the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving National Championships to become RPI’s first National Champion swimmer.
Hartman won the 200 breastroke event in a time of 2:19.21. She also placed 14th in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:10.99.
“To touch the wall and see the [No. 1] next to your name is a great feeling,” Hartman said of her first place finish, “It’s a good feeling to finish on top.”
Her swimming prowess has led her to qualify for the NCAA meet all four years. In that time, she has earned seven National All-American titles, a distinction given to the top eight finishers.
Hartman attributes a good deal of her success to the rest of the team and their coach, Shannon O’Brien. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of the team and our coach,” she commented.
This season, Hartman was named UCAA Female Swimmer of the Week seven times and ECAC Female Swimmer of the Week three times.
Junior Melissa Hershey also competed at the National Championships for RPI, diving in the 1 and 3 meter events. Hershey placed eighth in the 3m diving event, earning her National All-American honors for the first time. She also earned an Honorable Mention for her 14th place finish in the 1m event. Honorable Mention All-American honors are placed on those who finish between ninth and 16th.
This season, Hershey set a new school record in the 1m event, and has been named UCAA Female Diver of the Week five times.
For the men, only one swimmer qualified for the National Meet. Junior Pat Fell will be making his first trip to the NCAA D-III Men’s Swimming and Diving National Championships in the 500, 200, and 100 yard freestyle events.
The NCAA Meet is the last competition for both swimming and diving teams. Overall, the 2003-04 season was a success for both the men and the women, who finished 24-8 and 22-14 respectively on the season.
