New York, N.Y. --- The team of Michelle Cordero (Brooklyn, NY / Fontbonne Hall Academy), Samantha Michaele (Somerset, NJ / Immaculata), Mallory Simons (Elmira, NY / Southside), and Amanda Garcia (Astoria, NY / St. John’s Prep) claimed first place in the 200 free relay, the final event of the evening, to cap off a come from behind victory as the John Jay women’s swimming team defeated Lehman College 50-44 at the John Jay Pool on Friday evening.
The Bloodhounds capped off the win with Garcia, in the relay’s final leg, coming from behind, as John Jay trailed after the first three legs, to claim victory by 0.72 seconds.
The win improves the Bloodhounds to 2-0 (1-0 CUNYAC) on the season. Lehman is now 0-2 (0-1 CUNYAC).
The final event was the first time John Jay had a lead all evening. The visiting Lightning rallied out to a 26-8 lead after the first three events.
But the Bloodhounds chipped away at the lead, and in the 200 yard individual medley, the fifth event of the evening the Bloodhounds scored an exacta, which included their first win of the night. Ashley Stewart (Lacey Township, NJ / Lacey Township) powered home to a first place finish (2:55.98), with Michaele finishing right behind (3:10.73) to narrow the deficit to 27-16.
The Lightning took a 32-19 lead after the next event (100 yard butterfly), but John Jay scored another exacta, when Heather Vobis (Lindenhurst, NY / Lindenhurst) and Cecelia Pena (Brooklyn, NY / Bushwick) swam 1-2 in the 100 yard free. Vobis won the race (1:14.17) with Pena finishing second (1:16.50).
Lehman then took a 38-31 lead after the 100 yard backstroke, but John Jay finished first and third in the 500 yard free to edge closer. Garcia scored a first place finish (7:39.96) and Deandra Beach (Brooklyn, NY / South Shore) finished third (9:29.28) to make the score 41-37 in favor of Lehman.
The Bloodhounds then pulled within one (44-43) after finishing 1-3 again. Stewart scored a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:24.15) and Pena finished third (1:43.02) to set the stage for the final event.
Lehman took the early lead in the 200 free realy and increased it after the first two legs. The Bloodhounds trailed after the first 50 yards by 1.97 seconds, and after 100 yards the Lightning had a 2.27 second lead. After the third leg the Bloodhounds narrowed the deficit to 1.05 seconds before surging to victory in the final leg to remain undefeated in 2007-08.
“It was an exciting finish to say the least,” said John Jay head coach Jane Katz. “The girls swam well and fought hard all night and we got the win.”
John Jay returns to action on Mon. Nov. 12 against York College, 6:30 p.m. at the John Jay Pool.
