Rebecca Grove

BIG EAST Women's Battle Will Go Down To Final Session On Saturday

Feb. 18, 2006

Results

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – The Notre Dame men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will both head into the final session of the 2006 BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Championships in first place, yet the women’s lead is by the slimmest of margins. The men reside in first with a comfortable 127.5-point lead over Pittsburgh (511-383.5) however the story is different for the women as they hold a narrow five-point margin over Rutgers (496.5-491.5). The Irish women are seeking their 10th straight BIG EAST title, while the men are gunning for their second straight championship. The meet will conclude on Saturday evening in the Nassau County Aquatic Center as the final session is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.

The Fighting Irish women qualified a total of nine student-athletes into tonight’s final during preliminary action on Saturday morning, while Rutgers will have eight competitors going in tonight’s action. Those numbers do not reflect the 1,650-yard freestyle, which is swum as a timed final. Notre Dame has four athletes in that race, while the Scarlet Knights have one.

Key races for the Irish will be the 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard butterfly. Notre Dame qualified two of the top three spots in the 100-free as junior Rebecca Grove swam a career-best and NCAA `B’ cut time of 50.46, which was the second-fastest time in qualifying. She placed third in the event at last year’s BIG EAST meet. Freshman Christa Riggins was right behind Grove with an NCAA `B’ mark of 50.67.

Junior Julia Quinn was the top qualifier in the 200-breast as she registered a career-best time of 2:15.75, which lowered her NCAA consideration cut. Fellow junior Jessica Stephens also swam an NCAA `B’ cut time of 2:17.50 to place fourth. Senior Courtney Choura, who placed third in the event as a freshman in 2003, was the seventh-fastest qualifier in 2:21.26.

Katie Carroll will have her sights set on yet another BIG EAST title tonight in the 200-fly. The 11-time BIG EAST champion was the second-fastest qualifier in the morning by posting a career-best time of 2:00.37, which lowered her NCAA consideration cut. She will be joined the final by her freshman teammate Casey Wagner, who placed sixth in 2:03.16.

The Notre Dame men will look to increase their lead on Saturday night in the 200-yard backstroke and the 200-yard breaststroke. The Irish occupy three spots in the 200-back final, including senior Doug Bauman who was the third-fastest qualifier at 1:49.04. He placed fourth in the event last season and was runner-up in 2004. Defending champion Steve Shomberger qualified fifth (1:49.13) for the Irish and fellow senior Jamie Lutkus was sixth in a career-best time of 1:49.50.

Freshman Daniel Rave won his 200-breast heat and was the second-fastest qualifier overall with a season-best time of 2:01.57. Sophomore Graham Parker will also compete in the event for the Irish as he clocked a career-best time of 2:03.78 in prelims.

Saturday night’s competition will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will feature the finals of the 200-back, 100-free, 200-breast and 200-fly along with the 400-yard free relay and the 1,650-yard free for both the men and women. Men’s three-meter diving prelims will take place Saturday afternoon with the finals to occur in the evening.

For more information on the 2006 BIG EAST Swimming & Diving Championships, including results from each day’s action, please log onto bigeast.org.

Stay up-to-date on the Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams by logging on to und.com or by calling the Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.

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