Feb. 28, 2007
Notre Dame, Ind.- For the last four seasons Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team has been led by senior Katie Carroll (Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy), but Carroll’s collegiate career is quickly coming to a close. Carroll competes for the Irish for the final time at upcoming 2007 NCAA Championships, March 8-10, but what a memorable and historic Notre Dame career it has been.
Carroll has qualified for the NCAA Championships in seven individual events this season. She achieved an automatic qualifying `A’ standard in the 400 IM (4:14.99) at the Minnesota Invitational. The senior has also reached a `B’ qualifying standard in six other events: 200 freestyle (1:48.16), 500 freestyle (4:45.50), 1,650 freestyle (16.17.48), 100 butterfly (54.96), 200 butterfly (1:58.75) and the 200 IM (2:01.40). Carroll will swim the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 butterfly at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
Carroll, already an All-American after finishing a career-high sixth in the 400 IM during the 2005 NCAA Championships, will be looking to add to her career totals this season. Carroll has competed in the NCAAs in each of the last three seasons at Notre Dame and has been an Honorable Mention All-American four times.
Carroll enters the final meet of her Irish career as the current school record holder in the four events: the 500 free (4:45.50), 1,000 free (9:49.80), 200 IM (1:58.52) and the 400 IM (4:13.13). She also is ranked among the top-four in the record books in four other individual events: second in the 200 free (1:48.16), second in the 200 butterfly (1:58.75), third in the 100 butterfly (54.29) and fourth in the 1,650 freestyle (16:27.48). She is also linked to the school record-setting 800 freestyle relay team (7:15.36) and two other relay teams that rank among the top-three in the 200 freestyle relay (third) (1:32.23) and 400 freestyle relay (third) (3:22.03).
Carroll also recently broke the all-time school record for individual all-BIG EAST Honors (12), relay all-BIG EAST honors (16) and total all-BIG EAST honors (28). Carroll has been a BIG EAST Champion 15 times in her career and was named the 2007 BIG EAST Women’s Most Outstanding Swimmer, after leading Notre Dame to its conference record 11th consecutive BIG EAST team title.
Carroll, after her collegiate career is completed, will swim in the Pan Am games in July 2007 and still has the Olympics Trials for a potential spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, as she looks to continue her swimming career.
Carroll and eight of her Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving teammates will find out what events they officially qualify for this Friday, March 2, at 5 p.m. when selection information becomes available. The 2007 NCAA Championships will be competed from March 8-10 in Minneapolis, Minn. at the Minnesota Aquatic Center.