NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 7, 2009 – James Madison swept the top two spots in each diving event to pull ahead of all three opponents at a Colonial Athletic Association swimming & diving pod meet at Old Dominion on Saturday.

Through 13 events, JMU leads 2009 CAA runner-up William and Mary 124-115, Old Dominion 141-100, and Northeastern 174-66.

Diving continues to be a major strength for the Dukes with three top-five finishers in each event.  Junior Jessie Everett (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) posted a JMU season-best score of 267.95 to meet NCAA Zone qualification in the one meter.  She was also second in the three meter at 271.85.  Sophomore Nicole Jotso (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) had a JMU-best 286.60 in the three meter and was second in the one meter at 264.30.  Freshman Kimberly Helfrich (Fort Belvoir, Va./West Springfield) was fourth in the one meter at 234.15 and fifth in the three at 250.35.

JMU’s other first-place finish for the day came from sophomore Lauren Kranz (Clifton, Va./James Robinson) in the 1,650 freestyle in a time of 17:26.50.

A pair of freshman posted big days for the Dukes with Caroline Burns (Severna Park, Md./Severn School) finishing second in the 100 backstroke in 59.03, the ninth-best time in JMU history.  She also swam leadoff on both medley relays with both posting top-10 times in JMU history and finishing second in the meet.  She was joined by junior Lisa Colapietro (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg), junior Carly Gibson (Bethesda, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross), and sophomore Rebecca Hunt (Glen Allen, Va./J.R. Tucker) in the 200 medley in 1:47.81.  Burns, Colapietro, freshman Andrea Criscuolo (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant), and senior P.J. Naber (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly) posted a time of 3:55.80 in the 400 medley.

Criscuolo placed second individually in the 100 butterfly with the seventh-best time in JMU history in 58.12 seconds.  Colapietro earned a second-place finish in the 100 breast in 1:05.80 and was third in the 200 individual medley in 2:10.23.

In addition to the 400 medley relay, Naber placed second in the 200 free in 1:53.33.  She also swm leadoff in JMU’s 200 free relay team that placed second in 1:37.81.  Naber was followed by junior Layne Eidemiller (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), sophomore Christina Lepore (Charlotte, N.C./Providence), and Hunt

The meet closes at 10 a.m. Sunday with the 500 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and 400 free relay.