GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina Swimming & Diving teams jump-start its 2004-05 season when ECU holds its annual Purple & Gold Meet at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon at the Minges Aquatic Center. ECU's diving team will then host the North Carolina Tar Heels for a diving invitational at 6 p.m.

Purple edged out the gold team on the men's side, 89-88, while the gold women took the team title, 108-76, in last season's Purple-Gold Meet. Kate Gordon won the 200 Free with a 1:56.31 as well as the 200 Fly with a 2:07.04. Sara Hunt won the 100 Free with :54.77 to pace the Purple team. Hunt finished second in the 200 Free with a 1:58.16. Diane Parker won the 200 IM for the purple team with a 2:12.04. On the men's side, Gavin Stark paced the purple team placing second in the 200 Free with a 1:44.36 and winning the 100 Free with a time of :47.64. Casey Cronin led the gold team after taking two events. Cronin put up a time of 1:43.93 to win the 200 Free and followed that up with a 2:09.31 to win the breaststroke.

East Carolina is coming off a 2003-04 season which saw the Lady Pirates finish 8-2 overall and place second at the Conference USA Tournament. The ECU men finished 6-4 and placed second at the C-USA Invitational. Diane Parker was named the C-USA Swimmer of the Meet and the C-USA Swimmer of the Year last season. She is back for her senior season in 2004-05. ECU has all-conference performers in Adrienne Williams, Lindsey Holman, Sarah Hunt, Martha Snead, Parker, Gordon, Holly Williams, Jennie Meade and Courtney Felker returning on the women's side. Kelly Hendrick, Gavin Stark, and Casey Cronin are the all-conference performers returning on the men's side.

ECU opens up its dual meet season next Saturday Oct. 16 when the Pirates host both the women's and men's team from the College of Charleston in the Minges Aquatic Center at 3 p.m.