Radcliffe Swimmers Finish Sixth in Eastern Meet

Captain RoAnn Costin, swimming in four events, led the Radcliffe swimmers to a sixth place finish in the Eastern Collegiate Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend, with only an unfortunate disqualification preventing a higher finish.

Swimming at Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven, Mary Beth Thomaselli set a new Eastern Collegiate record in the 100-yd. breaststroke with a time of 1:12.36 in the trials, but was disqualified in the final heat on an illegal touch. However, she finished third in the 50-yd. breaststroke and will certainly swim in the nationals, according to coach Alice McCabe.

West Chester State College, second ranked nationally, ran away with the meet amassing 400 points, doubling second place Clairmont College. Other top finishers, who led the field of 29 schools, were Princeton, Slippery Rock State, Springfield College and Radcliffe which got 106 points.

Jean Sinnott was a surprise in the 200-yd. individual medley, bettering her own time by five seconds and grabbing seventh place. Sophomore Connie Cervilla placed 5th in the 50-yd, butterfly and 7th in the 100-yd, fly.

The meet--the first in which Radcliffe has attempted to compete for diving laurels--saw freshman Nancy Sato place ninth off the 1-meter board.

The relay teams have been the strongpoint of the 'Cliffe swimmers all season long and all three teams qualified for the Easterns.

In the 400-yd. medley relay, the team of Costin, Thomaselli, Cervilla and Sato took a second place in 4:29.5, five seconds better than their time at the nationals last year. The 200-yd. freestyle relay team of Sato, Cervilla, Sinnot and Costin finished sixth.

In addition to the relays, Costin swam the 100-yd. and 200-yd, freestyle finishing seventh and fifth respectively.