Goucher Quartet Lowers Pool Record in 400 Free Relay

TOWSON, Md. — A pool record that dated back to 1992 was broken today during Goucher's 118-70 triumph over Gallaudet.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final event of the meet, the entry of Morgan Richter (Cleburne, Texas/Cleburne), Colin Richter (Cleburne, Texas/Cleburne), Brian Cha (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lakeridge) and Sam Davis (Wilmington, Del./Wilmington Friends) posted a time of 3:20.64, taking more than five seconds off the former record for the von Borries Pool of 3:25.76.

By the time the 400 free relay took place, the Gophers (6-1) had already clinched the meet and didn't accept any points for their first-place performance. They would have also taken second and third place in the event, but opted to swim exhibition style.

Joey Hughes (Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan Catholic) was the last swimmer for Goucher to place first in an event and earn points for the Gophers. His victory was in the 500 free, which he completed in 5:57.51.

There were only two events prior to the 500 free in which Goucher did not claim first place. Gallaudet's Abdiel Davila-Cruz was the first to touch in the 50 free (:25.48) and Matthijis Wubbolts secured nine points for the Bison (1-5) by winning the 100 free (:53.61).

The Gophers started off strong, picking up 15 points in the 200 medley relay thanks to a first-place performance by the foursome of Morgan Richter, Connell Altschiller (Stratham, N.H./Berwick Academy), Davis and Duncan Miller (Mount Airy, Ga./Habersham Central) and a second-place finish out of Andrew Coon (Cumberland, Maine/Greely), Ben Shriner (Arlington, Mass./Arlington), Colin Richter and Justin Jeffries (Riverside, Calif./La Sierra).

The winning time in the 200 medley relay was 1:55.18.

Cody Nelson (Duanesburg, N.Y./Schalmont) led a 1-2-3 finish for the Gophers in the 1000 free with his time of 11:16.71 and Ian Furst (North Reading, Mass./homeschooled) did the same in the 200 free (2:03.51). Goucher also took first, second and third in the 200 individual medley, with Morgan Richter turning in a time of 2:10.50 to win the event.

Nelson also recorded the fastest time in the 100 backstroke (1:02.38), adding nine more points to the Gophers' total.

Colin Richter was clocked at :56.68 in the 100 butterfly, good for first place.

The Gophers will try to remain unbeaten at home this season when they host Catholic at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22.