Feb. 1, 2003

Baltimore, MD - The Johns Hopkins men's and women's swimming teams each picked up wins over Washington & Lee Saturday morning in the White Athletic Center. The Blue Jay men recorded a 105-77 victory over the Generals, while the JHU women posted a 99-78 win.

For the Hopkins men, sophomore J.P. Balfour (Plano, TX/Plano East) won the 1000 freestyle in 10:05.36 and the 200 backstroke in 1:54.03, while junior Oliver Buccicone (Rochester, MN/Rochester Lourdes) took the 200 freestyle in 1:47.08 and the 200 butterfly in 2:00.57.

Senior Mark Levin (Fairfax, VA/W.T. Woodson) won the 50 freestyle in 22.23 and the 100 freestyle in 49.45, and freshman Brian Sneed (Chattanooga, TN/McCallie) captured the 200 individual medley in 2:00.33. Additionally, the JHU 400 medley relay team of senior Jason Loverdi (Fredericksburg, VA/James Monroe), Levin, freshman Gary Itskovich (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood HS at Brooklyn College), and Sneed won its race in 3:42.65.

Freshman Stephanie Leaman (Grosse Point Woods, MI/Grosse Point North) won the 200 freestyle in 2:02.20 for the Hopkins women's team, while freshman Abiona Redwood (Kingston, Jamaica/St. Andrew) took the 50 freestyle in 25.04 and freshman Jessica Chang (Penfield, NY/Penfield) captured the 200 individual medley in 2:17.52.

Sophomore Diana Smirnova (Las Cruces, NM/Phillips Exeter Academy) won the 200 butterfly in 2:13.60, sophomore Michelle Phillips (Northridge, CA/Phillips Exeter Academy) took the 100 freestyle in 56.07, and freshman Katie Herbst (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) captured the 500 freestyle in 5:18.39. The Hopkins 400 medley relay team of Kristin Stepaniak (Shoreview, MN/Mounds View), Chang, freshman Sida Liu (Phoenix, AZ/North Canyon), and Phillips also won its race.

The Blue Jay women return to action on Saturday, February 22, when they compete in the Case Invitational in Cleveland, OH. The Hopkins men return to the pool on February 28 through March 2 at the ECAC Championships in Pittsburgh, PA.

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