Nov. 12, 2003
CLEVELAND - At the rate Marianne Lionell is going, none of the Cleveland State women's school records appear to be safe. The freshman from Sweden took down her third school mark in as many meets as the Vikings picked up a pair of wins over Gannon and Baldwin-Wallace on Wednesday afternoon at the Busbey Natatorium. The Viking women won over Gannon, 127-78, and defeated B-W by a 143-98 score.
Lionell won the 50 freestyle in a blazing time of 23.86, breaking the old mark of 24.13 by Becky Thiel in 1990. She also added a win in the 200 breaststroke in 2:25.73 in the final individual event of the day.
"She really wanted to try to get that 50 free record today," head coach Mike Lehto said. "In the 50, there's only three parts, the start, the turn, and the finish, and all three were right on today. I can't say enough about what she brings to this team."
Tina Abbot got the Vikings started, winning the first two individual events before Lionell's record-setting swim. Abbott won the 1000 freestyle in 10:54.70, then won the very next race, the 200 freestyle, in 2:00.81. Abbout would later win the 500 freestyle in 5:22.76.
Samantha Jones would add a pair of wins for the Vikings as well. Jones claimed first in the 200 butterfly, finishing in 2:12.07, then won the 200 backstroke in 2:11.98. Kirsty McKechnie won the 400 individual medley for the final Viking win on the day, posting a time of 4:39.80.
The Vikings return to action on Saturday, Nov. 15, when they host Eastern Michigan for a 1 p.m. start.
