March 16, 2001
Long Island, N.Y. – Irish freshman Marie Labosky placed 11th in the 400 individual medley today at the 2001 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Long Island, N.Y. Labosky, who had the 15th fastest time (4:17.82) in the morning preliminaries, improved four places after finishing the consolation final in 4:17.06. Florida’s Sara McLarty won the consolation final in 4:12.95, while Maggie Bowen, a sophomore at Auburn, won the NCAA title in the event with a time of 4:07.26.
In other action today, junior Kelly Hecking placed 18th in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55:37. Freshman Natalie Coughlin of California was the top qualifier at 52.86. Coughlin then went on to set an NCAA and American record in the night session in claiming the 100 backstroke crown.
Junior Heather Mattingly, who placed 24th in the one-meter diving event yesterday, improved to 12th today in the three-meter competition. Mattingly finished with 470.40 points. Houston’s Yulia Pakhalina led after the preliminary round with 619.40 points.
The 2001 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships conclude Saturday with Hecking still to swim the 200 backstroke and Labosky the 1,650 freestyle.