Feb. 3, 2010

 

PHILADELPHIA - Senior swimmer Shannon Duval has been named the La Salle Student-Athlete of the Month for the month of January after putting together a record-breaking month. The standout broke two pool records and a program record, and has earned the Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week award for the past three consecutive weeks.

Duval's records include two pool records in the 200 yard breaststroke and a new program record in the 200 yard freestyle. She was also named Performer of the Week for the weeks ending Jan. 19, Jan. 26 and Feb. 1 as she became the first women's swimmer in the history of the Atlantic 10 Conference to earn three straight Performer of the Week awards.

Duval kicked off the month of January by helping the women's squad to a win over George Washington and a competitive meet against ranked Massachusetts at the Rhode Island Invitational. She busted the Tootell Aquatic Center pool record in the 200 yard breaststroke by swimming a winning 2:18.41. She also captured gold in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:05.54 and the 200 yard individual medley with a 2:07.51. In that meet, she also helped the 200- and 400- yard medley relay squads to wins.

Duval returned to the pool the following Saturday (1/23) to earn three individual first place finishes to lead the squad on Senior Day against Fordham. She continued to dominate the breaststroke events, taking gold in both the 100- and 200- yard events as well as the 200 yard individual medley. Her 200 yard breaststroke time of 2:15.51 set a new Kirk Pool record in the event to mark the second straight week where she set a pool record in that event.

Duval wrapped up the month of January by lifting the Explorers to a 138-124 home win over St. Francis (PA) to round out the home meet season. She swam the 200 yard freestyle last week and set a new program record in that event with a time of 1:52.32. She also captured gold once again in the 200 yard breaststroke, and was the second leg of the winning 200 yard medley relay squad.

"Shannon's commitment to hard work throughout the season is paying big dividends in her performances," Head Coach Matt Nunnally said. "She understands the value of hard work and how it will pay off at the end of the season. By swimming fast in season and breaking multiple school records along the way she has put herself in a great position to have an outstanding [Atlantic 10] championship meet."

Duval will have the opportunity to make another big splash in the conference championship meet in just two weeks. The Explorers head to Buffalo, NY, for the four-day meet from Feb. 17-20. The 2009 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team honoree is the conference's reigning 200 yard breaststroke champion, setting a league record in that event last season.

Duval is also a standout in the classroom as well as in the pool. She qualified for the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll for the fall 2009 semester for attaining at least a 3.5 GPA.

Duval and the rest of the Explorer squad swim in their final regular season meet tonight (2/3) at Penn, beginning at 5:00 PM.