Feb. 27, 2013
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving program put together an impressive first night Wednesday at the 2013 BIG EAST Championships at the IUPUI Natatorium, as the Irish won both relays in school record times and had four divers finished in the top eight on the 3-meter discipline, including senior Jenny Chiang, who won the event for a BIG EAST record fourth time.
Notre Dame leads all 10 schools after day one with 141 points. Second place Louisville has 107 points. Pittsburgh sits in third with 75 points.
The Irish bookended the evening by winning the 800 free relay in a school record time of 7:13.51 and taking the 200 medley relay crown in another school record time of 1:38.74.
“It’s a good way to start a meet,” said head coach Brian Barnes. “I credit the athletes. They had great race strategies throughout and it paid off. They didn’t overswim and they kept it together. There is the element of team pressure involved in these opening relays and they handled it nicely. It definitely provides our team some good confidence heading into an important day two.”
In between Chiang won her fourth title in a row on the 3-meter discipline, making her the first BIG EAST diver to ever win four championships in a row in one event. She also became just the second Notre Dame women’s swimmer or diver to win an event all four years, joining Kelly Hecking (100 back – 1999-2002).
Chiang tallied 329.85 points, barely beating out Louisville’s Hannah Gadd (329.00) for gold. Sophomore Allison Casareto took third with 320.20 points to claim her second all-BIG EAST scroll in as many years.
“She was unbelievable up there tonight,” said Barnes. “She was poised and didn’t get rattled at all. What a way for a senior to go out – to win her fourth BIG EAST title in a row in the event.”
Notre Dame kicked off the meet in style as the relay team of Emma Reaney, Kelly Ryan, Suzanne Bessire and Jaime Malandra won the 800 free relay in a school record time of 7:10.84. The old record of 7:13.51 was set on Feb. 18, 2009 at the BIG EAST meet.
Reaney and Ryan came out blazing, swimming 1:45.88 and 1:45.75, respectively to give the Irish a second and a half lead going into the third leg. Bessire extended the lead by swimming 1:49.05 and Malandra closed the door on any comeback attempt by second place Villanova or third place Louisville with a 1:50.16 on the final 200 yards.
With the win the Irish improved on their third place finish from a year ago and earned a NCAA provisional cut in the event.
The title and all-BIG EAST honor was the first in the career of senior Malandra.
In the last relay, the Irish team of Lauren Scott, Reaney, Kim Holden and Catherine Galletti turned in another school record as the foursome went 1:38.74 in the 200 medley relay.
Scott led off the event by swimming the 50 back in 25.46. Reaney next swam the 50 breast in 27.29. Holden turned in an impressive 23.40 in the 50 fly to make way for Galletti to give the Irish their second relay title of the night as she went 22.59 in the 50 free.
The relay squad improved on their third place finish from a year ago and gave Galletti her first BIG EAST title and all-conference citation.
Notre Dame leads all 10 schools after day one with 141 points. Second place Louisville has 107 points. Pittsburgh sits in third with 75 points.
Day two gets underway at 10 a.m. Thursday with the 1-meter dive and the 500 free prelims.
School Records
800 Free Relay: Emma Reaney, Kelly Ryan, Suzanne Bessire, Jaime Malandra (7:10.84)
200 Medley Relay: Lauren Scott, Emma Reaney, Kim Holden, Catherine Galletti (1:38.74)
Notre Dame Wins
800 Free Relay: Emma Reaney, Kelly Ryan, Suzanne Bessire, Jaime Malandra (7:10.84)
200 Medley Relay: Lauren Scott, Emma Reaney, Kim Holden, Catherine Galletti (1:38.74)
NCAA B Cuts
800 Free Relay: Emma Reaney, Kelly Ryan, Suzanne Bessire, Jaime Malandra (7:10.84)
200 Medley Relay: Lauren Scott, Emma Reaney, Kim Holden, Catherine Galletti (1:38.74)
BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Recap (Consolation Finals and Finals Results Only)
*Indicates All-BIG EAST
1st – 800 Free Relay*
1st – 200 Medley Relay*
1st – 800 Free Relay*
1st – 200 Medley Relay*
1st – 200 Medley Relay*
1st – 200 Medley Relay*
1st – 800 Free Relay*
1st – 800 Free Relay*
1st – 3-Meter Dive* (Four-Time Champion)
3rd – 3-Meter Dive*
5th – 3-Meter Dive
8th – 3-Meter Dive
–ND–