Colgate’s swim meet with archrival Cornell University on Saturday, January 17 at Teagle Pool in Ithaca brought out the best and worst of Colgate’s swimming and diving program. The trend of split decisions continued for Colgate swimmers as the women Raiders defeated Cornell 169-129, while the men continued their downward spiral by losing 179-102.

Through six meets this season, the stellar women’s team remains impressively undefeated after defeating bottom-dweller Cornell, who is just 1-7 through eight meets. Senior Emily Murphy starred in the rout of Cornell, leading a one-two-three sweep in the 200 breaststroke. Murphy finished the race with a time of 2:08.68, while sophomores Erin McGraw and Caren Guyett finished second and third respectively with times of 2:10.09 and 2:11.09.

Senior Bev Walker, junior Caitlin Curran, McGraw and junior Kim Siembieda gave Colgate the lead in the opening event as the foursome won the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:50.70.

Then the women’s team pulled away from Cornell for good when Colgate won the first two places in the final event of the meet-the 400-free relay. Siembieda, senior Lisa Marchi, senior Ashley Bottger and junior Sarah Sciarrino posted a winning time of 3:35.20 to finish ahead of the foursome of junior Caitlin Dwyer, first-year Erica Derlath, Walker and Murphy, who touched in at 3:37.38.

Guyett and Bottger placed one-two in the 1000-free, while Bottger (52.34) and McGraw (53.86) earned the top two spots in the 100-free. First-year Emily Peck and Curran finished one-two in the 100-breast with times of 1:08.34 and 1:08.83, while Curran and sophomore Betsy Fischer posted times of 2:27.55 and 2:31.51 respectively to claim the top two spots in the 200-breast.

First-years Jenna Daly and Erika Mortenson also finished one-two in the 500-free with times of 5:13.55 and 5:18.72. Colgate’s other two victories of the meet came from Derlath, who won the 200-free (1:54.49) and 200-back (2:07.25).

The women’s swimming and diving team has positioned itself at the top of the Patriot League and appears confident as it enters the home stretch of the regular season.

“With a month left until Patriot League Championships, I believe we are on track to have a great swim meet filled with amazing performances and we are on our way to defending our Patriot League title,” Murphy said.

As the women’s team prepares to defend its Patriot League title, the men’s team is still looking for its first win since November 16 against Dartmouth. The men fell to 1-5 on Saturday, but received first place points in the 500-free, 400-IM, and the 100-fly. Sophomore Devon Healy took the former two events, while first-year Costas Hadjipateras was victorious in the latter race.

Both teams return home Saturday afternoon at noon as they host Binghamton in their final home meet of the year.