Women Hit Water Tonight at Nationals; Kelly and Downey Lead Six in Georgia

The women's swim team will try to grab a share of the men's limelight this weekend as it competes at the Small College Nationals in Gainesville, Ga.

Six of the women have qualified for the meet, led by workhorses Liz Kelly and Laurie Downey, who are each entered in more than a half-dozen events. In addition, they will swim in the three relays--the 400-yd. and 800-yd. freestyles and the 400-yd. medley.

The meet, which is only in its second year, starts tonight and runs through Saturday. Coach Stephanie Walsh said yesterday the newness of the meet makes it difficult to predict how the Crimson will fare. "Going by last year's times, some of our best times would win," she said. But Walsh added she expects a faster meet, because more teams will compete this year.

Kelly, Downey and spring specialist Jane Fayer have the best chance to bring home some gold for Harvard.

Kelly has qualified for all the freestyles and will certainly swim the longer events--the 1650, 800 and the 400. She is also Harvard's only representative in the butterfly and may do double duty, swimming both the 100-yd. and 200-yd. events. She will also tackle the 400-yd. individual medley, but her best chance appears to be in the 1650-yd. freestyle on Saturday night.

If Kelly can repeat her performance in the 1650 at last month's Ivy Championships--in which she swam away from everybody, winning by 24 seconds--she should be in the top three. Gina Stuart and Katie Kelley are also entered in this event.

Downey has qualified for all the backstrokes, the 100-yd. freestyle and the 100-yd., 200-yd. and 400-yd. individual medleys. Coach Walsh said Downey has been working hard and has "found the edge" she's been missing all season.

Fayer is entered in the 50- and 100-yd. freestyle events. Although she only began working out in January after an early-season injury, the former Olympian says she is ready. Walsh said of Fayer: "With probably the worst stroke I've seen, she is moving so fast."

Sherry Lubbers will also swim the 100-yd. freestyle along with the 500-yd. freestyle, and she will team with Fayer, Downey and Kelly in the freestyle relays.