College Swimming
Rider's Burns Honored by the MAAC

LAWRENCEVILLE-Senior Brianna Burns (Chestnut Ridge, N.Y./Spring Valley) of the Rider University women's swimming and diving team was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Female Swimmer of the Week it was announced Tuesday afternoon.

The 5-9 Burns was honored for all competition January 17-23.

In Rider's competition at the Rutgers Invitational, Burns won the 50 free (24.73), the 100 free (52.64) and the 200 free (1:53.65) as the Broncs also defeated Saint Francis, Pa. in a dual at Piscataway.  During the same two-day event, Burns was part of three winning relays, the 400 free (3:36.04), 400 medley (4:00.89) and 200 free (1:39.71).

A Communication major with a minor in Advertising, Burns is a team captain this year.

Last year she placed third in the MAAC Championships in both the 50 free and the 100 free and was sixth in the 200 free.

The Rider Athlete of the Month in January, Burns holds the Rider Coppola pool record in the 50 free and swam on the Coppola pool record-setting 400 free relay.

As a sophomore she was a member of the MAAC record setting 200 free relay and 400 medley relay and the ECAC record setting 200 free relay.

As a freshman Burns set a MAAC and Rider record in the 100 free and helped set a Rider and MAAC record in the 400 free relay.

This is the third time that Burns has earned conference recognition this season.  Burns was recognized on October 25, 2010 and November 5, 2010.

The Rider men's swimming and diving team hosts Villanova on January 26 at 4pm with both the men's and women's teams wrapping up the regular season with a home meet against Lafayette on February 2 at 5pm.

-RU-