By Paul Tenorio

After opening her college career by winning the CAA Swimmer of the Year honors, 2008 All-Met Swimmer of the Year Ashley Danner (Lake Braddock) entered last night’s opening to the conference championships with high expectations.

Danner quickly showed she is up to the challenge, winning the 200 yard individual medley on Thursday night and breaking her own conference record in the process, finishing with a NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 1:58.32.

“I think so,” Danner said when asked if the race set the tone for the weekend. “When I saw the time I was really surprised. I was really happy so hopefully I can keep it up throughout the rest of the week”

Former Walter Johnson standout and Towson junior Meredith Budner won the title in the 500 freestyle with a NCAA ‘B’ standard 4:42.92. 2008 All-Met sophomore Molly Emery (William & Mary/Lake Braddock) finished sixth in 4:55.46.

Earlier in the meet, two-time All-Met David Kiss swam his first collegiate finals and the former Edison star nearly opened the newest chapter of his career with a title.

Kiss finished second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:51.13, finishing just behind Drexel’s T.J. Southmayd – who surprised the crowd in Lane 7 by taking the title in 1:50.46.

“I’ve been training really hard this year and I was really excited coming in here,” Kiss said. “I knew I could pull out best [time and] top three, that was my goal, so I was hoping. I got a best time so I’m happy for it and I’ll keep training hard for next year.”

Former Yorktown standout Katie Radloff took second in the women’s 50 freestyle, finishing in a time of 22.74, just one-hundredth of a second behind UNC-Wilmington’s Caitlin Kirsteier. William & Mary freshman Elizabeth Hall (Chantilly) took fifth with a time of 23.56.

Westfield grad Eric Knight, the 2008 CAA Swimmer of the Year, took fourth in the 50 freestyle with a NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 20.13

In the 1-meter diving event, George Mason’s Derrick Butts (Paint Branch) and Bryan Bahr (Mount Vernon) took second and third.

George Mason senior Steven Benecki (Chantilly) took fifth in the 500 freestyle (4:33.58), while William & Mary sophomore Stephen Fay (Chantilly) finished eighth (4:39.07).

Robinson graduate Robby Munch was part of UNCW’s winning 200 freestyle relay and also finished eighth in the 50 freestyle (20.66).

Osbourn Park standout and UNCW freshman Carly Tanner was a member of the Seahawks second-place 400 freestyle relay (3:43.24), while former teammate and All-Met Gabrielle Mizerak swam for William & Mary’s 400 free relay (4th – 3:47.03).

Tags: Chantilly, Edison, Lake Braddock, Mount Vernon, NCAA, Osbourn Park, Paint Branch, Robinson, Walter Johnson, Westfield, Yorktown

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