The 2008 Mid-American Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championships got underway Wednesday night at the University at Buffalo's Alumni Arena Natatorium with a pair of MAC records set as well as UB school record.

Through two events, Toledo holds the team lead with 74 points. Eastern Michigan is second with 66 points. Ohio and Miami (OH) are tied for third at 64. Buffalo and Bowling Green are tied for fifth at 56. Akron and Ball State are tied for seventh at 46.

The meet started with a MAC and league championship record being set by Toledo in the 200-yard medley relay. The Rockets' time of 1:41.32 also broke the UB pool record and established an NCAA B cut mark. Toledo's foursome included Meg Reissig, Kylie Gamelier, Amanda Thompson and Leah Woodard.

Eastern Michigan set MAC and league championship marks as well as a UB pool record and NCAA B cut with its win in the 800-yard freestyle relay. EMU's foursome of Steph Cholyk, Hannah Burandt, Alissa Ricard and Maddy Pilchard touched the wall first in 7:15.91, nearly six seconds ahead of the previous MAC mark set by the Eagles at last season's meet and nearly 15 seconds better than the previous UB facility mark.

Jessie Koltz
UB's 200-yard medley team set a new school record with their fourth-place finish of 1:44.21. The Bulls' foursome included Andrea Lehner (Lockport, NY/Orchard Park), Ashley Schaffert (Lockport, NY/Lockport), Sam Palma (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) and Jessie Koltz (Chenango Bridge, NY/Chenango Valley). The Bulls sliced two seconds off the previous record set in 2000.

The Bulls also placed sixth in the 800-yard freestyle relay as Lehner, Renae Sharkey (Fords, NJ/Metuchen), Ashley Olsen (Tonawanda, NY/Buffalo Seminary) and Jordan Deren (Lackawanna, NY/Nardin Academy) finished in 7:33.43, a season-best time.

Competition continues on Thursday with preliminaries at 11:00 am and finals at 7:00 pm. The meet concludes on Saturday.

Team scores (after two events): Toledo 74, Eastern Michigan 66, Ohio 64, Miami (OH) 64, Bowling Green 56, Buffalo 56, Akron 46, Ball State 46.

Wednesday's champions

200 medley relay: Toledo (Meg Reissig, Kylie Gamelier, Amanda Thompson, Leah Woodard) 1:41.32

800 freestyle relay: Eastern Michigan (Steph Cholyk, Hannah Burandt, Alissa Ricard, Maddy Pilchard) 7:15.91