Title Hunt: Aquawomen Down Princeton

The squash winning streak may be over, but another Harvard team is running up an impressive string of victories of its own.

The Harvard women's swimming team extended its three-year Ivy League winning streak with a 79-61 victory over a game Princeton squad Saturday afternoon in Princeton, N.J.

With only the weaker Cornell and Penn teams left on its Ivy League schedule, the Crimson (7-0 overall, 5-0 Ivy) has cleared its last major hurdle to a fourth straight Ivy League crown.

Noting that Princeton was rested and shaved for the meet, Harvard Coach Maura Costin-Scalise said, "To race against a team that was going after us and to still kill them pleases me."

The two-week layoff for exams clearly affected Harvard's times. "We raced real well," Tri-Captain Linda Suhs said, "but I think a lot of people thought the meet would be a lot faster."

The Crimson won the meet by throughly dominating the breaststroke and backstroke events. Anne Koerckel led a sweep of the 200-yd. breaststroke with a time of 2:27.50, and Mia Costello and Stephanie Wriede took second and third, respectively. In the 100-yd. breaststroke, Costello (1:08.00) beat out Koerckel (1:08.70) in a one-two Harvard finish.

Sheila Findley and Kaari Reierson controlled the backstroke. Findley (1:00.40) out-touched Reierson (1:00.50) in the 100-yd. event, but it was Reierson (2:09.00) who was victorious in the 200, followed by Findley (2:10.30).

One of the highlights of the day was the sprint showdown between two long-time nemeses, Suhs and Princeton senior Darcie Eckert. In a duel of Ali-Frazier proportions, Suhs triumphed in the 50-yd. freestyle (23.91), but in the 100-yd. freestyle, Eckert (52.1) turned the tables, nipping Harvard's Tri-Captain (52.3). Eckert also won the 200-yd. freestyle event (1:50.45).

The Crimson took first and third in both distance events. Freshman Stacie Duncan captured the 1000-yd. freestyle in 10:14.00, ahead of classmate Jenny Moyer (10:27.70). Sweetser cruised to victory in the 500-yd. freestyle (5:01.70) while Duncan took third in 5:02.80.

Harvard's diving effort was spearheaded by senior Lisa Pierce, who took first in both the one-meter and three-meter events, with freshman Sarah Blake finishing third in the one-meter event.

Princeton's forte was clearly the butterfly events. Led by National Junior Olympian Pam Franklin, the Tigers placed one-two in both the 100-yd. and 200-yd. races, with Harvard's Courtney Chubb taking third in both races.

The aquawomen are looking ahead to the Eastern Championships in three weeks, and they plan to be ready. "We weren't as rested today as we will be for Easterns," Suhs said.

THE NOTEBOOK: Harvard will see action next Saturday, when it hosts Cornell at Blodgett Pool. It is Harvard's last home meet of the season. The first race is slated for 12 p.m.