LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference meet with Marist Saturday. The Rider men ended Marist’s streak of 60 consecutive dual meet victories over MAAC opponents, and defeated the Red Foxes for the first time since 1994. the Rider women had their narrowest loss ever to Marist.  “Things went perfect today, they couldn’t have gone better,” said Rider head coach Steve Fletcher.  “That was a great win for our men’s team, and a great effort by our women."

The Rider men (2-0) were led by senior Dan Burgess (Greeley, CO/Union Colony Prep), who won the 200 free (1:43.76) and the 100 free (46.90), and swam on the winning men’s 400 medley relay team that set a Coppola Pool record time of 3:29.43 to set the tone of the race. That relay team consisted of freshman Josh Rosenbluth (Lawrenceville/Lawrence), junior Brandon Modrov (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) Burgess and freshman Stuart Barr (Milford, Del./Milford Senior). “The biggest win was the 400 Medley relay,” said Fletcher. “That was a good match up of the best talent of both programs, and it really set the tone for the meet.”

Rosenbluth also won the 200 IM (1:55.40) and the 200 backstroke (1:53.35) and Modrov also won the 1,000 free (9:50.07).

“That was not expected today,” said Fletcher.  “We only had 14 competitors today.  Due to injury and illness our men’s team was small today and every point counted.  We needed to fight for every point we got.”

For the Rider women (0-2), junior Courtney Clark (Broomall, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) won all three of her events, the 1,000 free (10:46.13), the 200 free (1:57.37) and the 500 free (5:15.92). “It is very unusual to swim those three events and to win them,” said Fletcher. “that is one of the toughest ‘triples’ in swimming, to swim as well as she did in the long 1,000, then a sprint like the 200 right afterward, then the 500.”

“It was challenging, that’s for sure,” said Clark, who last year at the MAAC Championships won the 500 free in a MAAC Championship record time (5:00.2), as well as the 1,000 free, the 1,650 free and swam on the MAAC-winning 800 free relay.  “But swimming all three was the best thing to do for the team.”

“She’s a consistent trainer and very coachable,” said Fletcher.  “My coach did a great job coaching me through the 1,000,” said Clark.  “There was only 10 minutes in between the 1,000 and the 200, but it was enough time, today anyway.”  At least she had some time to rest before the 500. “The 500 is my favorite race,” said Clark.  "The 1,000 is pretty long, and I feel more confident in the 500. but I like swimming three events.”

Freshman sensation Priscilla Modrov (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) broke both the Rider team and Coppola Pool record in the 200 individual medley (2:08.42). Last week she broke the Rider and Pool records in the 400 IM.  “Priscilla puts a lot of pressure on herself,” said Fletcher.  “She has a lot of talent, but also has room for improvement, so it is going to be very exciting to coach her for four years.”

Also for the Rider men, sophomore Dylan Korn (Hawthorne, NY/Westlake) won the 1-meter dive (225.60) junior Eric McFerin (Columbus, OH/Upper Arlington) won the 50 free (21.81) and senior Chris Coles (Plainsboro, N.J./WW-P North) won the 3-meter dive (258.90).

Also for the Rider women, junior Lauren Urbanski (Lansdowne, Pa./Upper Darby) won the 200 butterfly (2:08.31), and the 400 free relay team of Modrov, senior Jen Feenstra (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin ), sophomore Stephanie Cosentino (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy) and senior Rose Brenner (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional) won in 3:39.38.

Rider swims at the University of Pennsylvania against Penn and Lehigh November 12.

-RU-