Northeastern’s Megan Clark Earns Program’s 1st CAA Swimmer Of The Year

Press Release courtesy of Northeastern Athletics

For the first time in program history, a Northeastern Husky is the Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Swimmer of the Year. Sophomore Megan Clark was named the conference’s top female swimmer, the league office announced Thursday.

Clark received the honor after a breakout 2018 season in Red and Black that ended at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships.

The Virginia native was first swimmer in Northeastern history to qualify for the NCAA Championship, and the first Husky to qualify since diver Adela Gadozeda in 2004. She was also one of two Colonial Athletic Association’s swimmers to qualify for this year’s championship.

In just her second CAA Championship meet, Clark was named the 2018 Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet, after capturing gold in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events. She is just one of three athletes in CAA Championship history to all three events at the same title meet.

Clark has set and reset school records this season, beginning at the Frank Elm Invitational where she posted new program records in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events. She then later broke those three records at the CAA Championships.

Most recently, Clark re-wrote program records and CAA records at Ohio State’s Last Chance Meet, swimming 22.29 in the 50 freestyle and 48.47 in the 100 freestyle. Both times broke the school records that she had set this season, while also breaking the all-time CAA records in each event, set by William and Mary’s Katie Radloff in 2009.

The sophomore has also been a staple on Northeastern’s relay teams this season, helping lead the Huskies to three gold-medal finishes (200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay) at the CAA Championships and four new program records (200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay).

In addition to Clark’s honor, seven Huskies picked up All-CAA accolades based on their performance at the 2018 CAA Championships.

Seniors Sara Touchette-McGowan and Christine Leong capped off their careers at the CAA Championships and with conference honors. Touchette-McGowan for her first-place finish in the 100 butterfly, as well as her performance on three first-place relay teams (200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay). Leong was also a member of the gold medal winning 400 medley relay team.

Freshman Klara Juliusson and Matilda Weiler both picked up conference honors for their individual performances, as well as relay performances. Weiler secured gold in the 200 individual medley, one of only two freshmen to win gold at the meet, while also being a member of the first-place 200 and 400 freestyle relay.

Juliusson placed third in the 100 breaststroke, and was also a member of the winning 200 and 400 medley relay teams. Sophomores Sidney Smith and Lena Spear also picked up All-CAA honors, thanks to their relay performances.