UNH Drowns Harvard, 85-44

The slogan on the back of their new T-shirts read, "It's not the MEET, It's the MOTION," but the motion wasn't a winning one last night for the Harvard women's swim team as the women from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) submerged them 85-44 at the IAB.

The meet was a conglomeration of individual bright spots and lots of second-bests for the Crimson swimmers, who were never able to take the lead last night.

The biggest thorn in the Harvard team's side--which insists it is not a Radcliffe group--was the continued absence of star swimmer Maura Costin. Costin, suffering from the back and shoulder problems that kept her in the hospital over intersession, lent moral support from the sidelines, but could not lend physical support in the pool.

Costin, who has not lost in an individual event all season, will not be able to swim in Saturday's Greater Boston Championships meet at MIT either.

Winning Ways

The other team standout, freshman Jane Fayer, continued her winning ways by grabbing first place finishes in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard freestyle events. Fayer's only losses this season came last week against Yale when she placed second in three events, but each time swimming a new personal best time.

Sue Abkowitz, suffering through an off night from the one-meter board, made up for her less-than-stellar diving by swimming a second-place 30.09 in the 50-yard butterfly, 0.9 seconds better than her best previous time.

Other strong performances were turned in by Leslie Landerfeld, with a first-place 32.09 in the 50-yard backstroke, Debbie Van Ryn, with a second-place 2:37.7 in the 200-yard backstroke, and Nancy Danoff, with a second-place 36.10 in the 50-yard breaststroke.

Coach Stephanie Walsh said after the meet that the women "started strong with lots of new personal-best times." But Walsh said UNH's greater depth, "especially in the 200-yard events" made the difference.

Good Start

Indeed, the Crimson women did start well. After losing in the 400-yard medley relay, they won three of the next six events and placed high in the other three to stay within nine points, 35-26, at the halfway mark in the meet.

But from there, UNH took seven first places in the next eight events (only Fayer's win in the 200-yard freestyle broke their string), to turn the contest into a virtual rout.

UNH's Laurie Schulte finished first in both the 200-yard individual medley (2:21.80) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:37.2).

Margo Boch, also from UNH, continued her domination of the 50-yard butterfly event, taking first with a 29.44. She also won the 200-yard fly in a time of 2:39.9.

The Harvard women are now 4-3 on the year, 2-1 in the Ivy League. UNH is 9-1 so far this season.