The University of Mary Washington swim teams captured gold medals in eight of 10 events and earned at least 3 of the top 8 places in all eight individual races to gain the first-day lead at the 2011 CAC Swimming Championships at St. Mary's College (Md.).

After Friday's competition, which includes five of the 18 events in the three-day championship, Mary Washington's men's team won all five events on the way to 256.5 points - more than doubling second-place York (122).  Rounding out the men's team scoring are St. Mary's (105), Salisbury (82), Marymount (51.5), Hood (33) and Frostburg State (29).

On the women's side, where UMW won three of five races, the Eagles scored 239 points.  Host St. Mary's (133) and Marymount (116) - each with one gold medal, are in a tight battle for second place.  Salisbury (65), Hood (39), Frostburg State (32) and York (31) round out the field.

Senior Stephen Clendenin, junior Austin Clark and sophomore Nick Eckhoff led the UMW men's team Friday. 

Clendenin, the reigning two-time CAC Men's Swimming Championship Athlete of the Year, captured top honors in the 200 individual medley (1:51.81) and led off the winning 400 medley relay team (3:26.53).  He was the first of four Eagles to place among the top eight in the 200 IM.

Eckhoff sandwiched contributions in both the winning 200 freestyle relay (1:24.90) and 400 medley relay teams with a first-place finish in the 500 freestyle (4:39.77).  UMW had seven of the top eight finishers in the event, helping the Eagles gain the large lead in the team standings.

Like Eckhoff, Clark was a member of both victorious relay teams and picked up an individual gold in the 50 freestyle (21:37).

In the women's competition, UMW won both relay races around senior Sarah Crockett's first-place performance in the 500 freestyle (5:05.37).   Crockett swam the leadoff leg for both the first-place 200 freestyle relay (1:38.17) and the 400 medley relay (3:56.93).

Marymount junior Anna Macedonia and St. Mary's sophomore Kelly Heyde, the 2010 CAC Women's Swimming Rookie of the Year, each posted individual victories Friday.

Macedonia took top honors in the 50 freestyle (23.99) and led off the Saints' second-place 200 relay team (1:39.42).  Marymount and St. Mary's each had three of the top seven swimmers in the 50 freestyle.

Heyde (2:08.59) captured top honors over UMW rival Megan DeSmit (2:11.19) in the 200 individual medley.  The Seahawks had three of the top six finishers in the race while UMW had three of the top seven.

The three-day championship competition continues Saturday and Sunday, with two sessions each day.  The morning preliminary races begin at 10 a.m. each day, followed at 6 p.m. with the evening championship races.

Team Scores

2011 MEN'S TEAM SCORES (through 5 events): 1. University of Mary Washington 256.5; 2. York College (Pa.) 122;  3. St. Mary's College of Maryland  105; 4. Salisbury University 82; 5. Marymount University  51.5;  6. Hood College 33; 7. Frostburg State University 29

2011 WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES (through 5 events): 1. University of Mary Washington 239; 2. St. Mary's College (Md.) 133; 3. Marymount University 116; 4. Salisbury University 65;  5. Hood College 39; 6. Frostburg State University 32; 7. York College (Pa.) 31