PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Strong efforts by the relays highlighted the William Paterson swimming and diving teams' results on Day One of the Metropolitan Championships Feb. 16 at Rutgers' Sonny Werblin Center.

The women's 200 freestyle relay of Grace McKay (Fairlawn, N.J./Fairlawn),  Melanie Mejias (Union, N.J./Union), Traci Dombrowski (Union, N.J./Union) and Cathy Hartwell (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) finished seventh in the “A” Final with a time of 1:43.34, while the men's 200 free relay of Voytech Karas (Brno, Czech Republic/Luduika Danka), David Caputo (Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis), Brian Fisher (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Twp.) and Joe Schirrman (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) was eighth in the “A” Final (1:29.68). The women's 400 medley relay of McKay, Jessica Lyon (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock), Colleen Takemoto (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) and Hartwell placed fifth with a time of 4:13.76.

Karas had the best individual effort of the day, placing sixth in the “A” Final of the 50 freestyle (21.66). Caputo touched eighth in the “B” Final (16th overall) in the 500 free (5:00.14), while Schirrman finished fourth in the “B” Final (12th overall) of the 50 freestyle (22.12). The 400 medley relay team of Schirrman, Kirk Smith (West Orange, N.J./West Orange), Caputo and Fisher was third in the “B” Final (11th overall) in a time of 3:53.88, and Smith also placed eighth in the “C” Final (24th overall) of the 200 IM (2:10.48).

Freshman Giana Albruzzese (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) placed fifth in the three-meter dive (240.90). Three Pioneers advanced to the “C” Finals in individual swims – Dombrowski in the 500 freestyle (fifth/21st overall; 5:37.15), Lyon in the 200 IM (third/19th overall; 2:22.48) and Hartwell in the 50 free (second/18th overall; 25.55).

The Metropolitan Championships will continue Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18.