June 18, 2004

KENT ISLAND, Md. - Maryland swimmer Brad Schertle (Baltimore, Md.), a rising senior, placed seventh out of 552 in the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim June 13. Schertle's time of 1:30:38 was good enough for first in the men's 20-24 age group.

This is the fifth year Schertle has competed in the 4.4-mile race, which starts at Sandy Point State Park on the western shore of the bay and ends at Kent Island on the eastern shore. He won the event last year.

The water temperature was 72 degrees, nine degrees warmer than last year's 63, which was the lowest it had been in the 20 years since the event started. However, Schertle said the water was the choppiest he has experienced in his five years.

Schertle was the Terps' top distance swimmer during the 2003-04 season. The team co-captain finished 14th in the 1,650-yard freestyle and 21st in the 500-free at the ACC Championship in February.