BOCA RATON, FLA.  1/5/12 – Undeterred by the mid-week cold spell that hit the Sunshine State, the Keene State College women's swim team competed in a tri-meet against Division I programs from James Madison (Va.) University and Miami (Ohio) at the St. Andrew's School in Boca Raton on Wednesday. 

The same can't be said for the Owl men's team that had its meet against Michigan State cancelled after the first relay due the unseasonable temperatures that according to KSC Coach Jack Fabian dipped as low as 39 degrees.  "It was a challenge to run the meet," said Fabian.  "The girls couldn't feel their feet on the blocks."

In the only men's race held in the St. Andrew's 25-yard pool, the Owl team of junior Marc Marois (Derry, N.H.) and sophomores Dan Oliveria (Ludlow, Mass.), Jared Hyde (Tolland, Conn.) and Randy Dunton (Saint Cloud, Florida) placed fifth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:57.44. 

After the Michigan State team left, the KSC men continued the meet for training purposes. Sophomore Drew Ledwith (Keene, N.H.) won the 200 free (2:03.99) and the 100 fly (1:03.50) while Dunton placed first in the 100 back (1:08.59) and the 200 IM (2:28.68).

In the women's meet, freshman Diana Pimer (West Haven, Conn.) had the top finish for the owls, placing fifth in the 100 breast with a time 1:24.00.  In other races, sophomore Stephanie Murray (Haverhill, Mass.) was sixth in the 100 back (1:18.09) and seventh in the 50 free (30.12); freshman Caitlyn Shea (Salem, N.H.) placed eighth in the 200 free (2:22.47) and senior Maureen O'Leary (Nashua, N.H.) finished seventh in the 100 fly (1:11.97).  The Owl team of senior Jillian Whitaker (Gilford, N.H.), freshman Julie Trodden (Reading, Mass/), Shea and Murray also placed seventh in the 200 free relay with a time of 2:06.03. 

The Owls wrap up their stay in Florida on Saturday when they compete at the Hall of Fame pool in Fort Lauderdale and also participate in open water races.