Williams, Shalamanov Turn in Second-Place Performances

Gophers' Three-Day Total of 202 Points Good for Fifth Place

KINGS POINT, N.Y. — Second-place performances by Kyle Williams (Andover, N.J./Newton) in the 500-yard freestyle and Georgi Shalamanov (Velingrad, Bulgaria/St. St. Kiril & Metodi) in the 100-yard breaststroke helped Goucher earn 202 points to finish in fifth place at the 2011 Landmark Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, which concluded today.

The Gophers finished 106 points ahead of sixth-place Drew and 41.5 points behind fourth-place Catholic.

Williams set a new school record in the 500 free with his time of 4:47.92 as he finished 2.2 seconds in back of Josh McCormick from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

The junior also recorded the fastest times in the history of Goucher's men's swimming program in both backstroke events during the three-day meet. He first broke the 100 back record with his time of :53.92 swimming the first leg for Goucher's entry in the 400-yard medley relay. Williams was followed, in order, by Shalamanov, Charlie Leonard (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville) and Brendan McFadden (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley), and the foursome placed third in the event with a time of 3:34.53, which is also a new school record.

Later he lowered his time to :53.71 to place third in the championship finals of the 100 back.

Williams also touched third in the 200 back and his time of 1:56.64 bettered his own school record of 1:59.62, which he turned in at last year's Landmark meet to place third in the event.

Shalamanov completed the 100 breast in :58.93, making him runner-up to Susquehanna's Colin Sullivan (:58.07). The junior also made the championship finals in the 200 breast, placing fourth overall with his time of 2:13.08, and the consolation finals in the 200 individual medley where his time of 1:59.67 landed him in seventh place.

Leonard was in the consolation finals in three events and finished ninth in the 50 free (:22.64) and 10th in both butterfly events. He set a new school record with his time of :54.31 in the 100 fly and completed the 200 fly in 2:13.08.

McFadden placed seventh in the 100 free (:48.83) and 12th in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.69); Patrick McNeel (Flagstaff, Ariz./Flagstaff) finished 11th in the 200 fly (2:14.33).

Goucher's entry in the 200 medley relay not only finished in second place, but the foursome of Williams, Shalamanov, Leonard and McFadden set a new school record with its time of 1:36.23. The Gophers also placed fourth in the 200 free relay where the same four individuals combined to break the school record with their time of 1:27.45.

In the other relay events, the Gophers placed fourth in both the 400 free (3:17.18) and fifth in the 800 free (7:54.95).