Nov. 4, 2011

BALTIMORE - The Loyola University Maryland swimming and diving team claimed three victories on the first day of the Thomas Murphy Invitational Friday at the Mangione Aquatics Center.

Loyola's men's 800-yard freestyle relay team of junior Ryan Shovlin, junior Brennan Morris, senior Patrick Mukri and senior Tony Florida combined to win the event with a time of 6:57.98.

In 3-meter diving, sophomore Elizabeth Mixa won the title with 214.35 points, while sophomore Michael Brown won 1-meter diving with a score of 248.10.

The Greyhounds also got runner-up finishes from senior Courtney Trivino, sophomore Caitlin Cronin and sophomore Ben Duva, while Mukri and the Greyhounds' 400-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relays earning third-place finishes.

Trivino finished second in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:10.30, while Mukri finished third on the men's side in 1:58.01. In the 500-yard freestyle, Duva finished second in 4:52.64.

Cronin earned runner-up honors in the 50-yard freestyle in 24.49 and was also a member of Loyola's 800-yard freestyle, with sophomore Erin Shea, freshman Brianna Keelan and freshman Erin Calderoni, that finished third in 7:58.22.

The Greyhounds' men's 400-yard medley relay of Morris, junior Jeffrey Rowe, Mukri and Florida finished third, touching in 3:28.81.

Following the first day of competition, Loyola's women lead Saint Francis (Pa.), 58-49, but trail Johns Hopkins, 67-40. On the men's side, the Blue Jays lead the Greyhounds, 65-42.

Loyola will return to the pool tomorrow for two sessions. The first competition will begin at 10 a.m., with the second starting at 3 p.m.