Feb. 21, 2003
Uniondale, N.Y. – The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team had 12 women qualify for the championship finals after the morning prelims of day two at the 2003 BIG EAST Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
Leading the way for Notre Dame was junior Danielle Hulick who posted the fastest time in the 100 backstroke in the morning session. Hulick touched in at 54.98 tying former Irish swimmer Kelly Hecking’s BIG EAST Championship record and automatically qualifying for the 2003 NCAA Championships March 20-22 in Auburn, Ala. Hulick also tied Hecking’s Notre Dame varsity record with her morning swim.
Hulick was one of four Irish swimmers to qualify for the championship finals in the 100 backstroke as freshman Kara Santelli was third in a “B” qualifying time of 56.56. Sophomore Kristen Peterson was fourth in 56.74, also a “B” time, while sophomore Sarah Alwen was sixth in 56.79, another “B” cut.
Junior Marie Labosky swam the second-fastest time in the 400 individual medley. Labosky’s time of 4:20.72, was just behind defending champion Maddy Crippen of Villanova. Crippen posted a time of 4:18.85. Labosky’s time was an NCAA “B” qualifier. Sophomore Brooke Taylor was seventh with a time of 4:27.34, while junior Katie Philipp was ninth in 4:29.29 and senior Amy Deger was 10th in 4:31.27.
Freshman Christel Bouvron recorded the second-fastest time of the morning in the 100 butterfly. Bouvron’s time of 54.63 was under the 2002 NCAA qualifying time of 54.75, which should put her in good position to advance to the 2003 meet. Rutgers’ Michelle DeFreese was first in 53.99. Irish junior Lisa Garcia was fourth in 55.19, swimming a “B” time, while junior Lisa D’Olier was eighth in 56.08.
Senior Heidi Hendrick posted the sixth-best time in the 200 freestyle with an NCAA “B” time of 1:50.56. Villanova’s Becky Koch was first in 1:48.64. Alwen just missed the championship final after placing ninth in 1:51.40.
Freshman Courtney Choura and junior Laurie Musgrave qualified for the championship final in the 100 breaststroke. Choura had the third-fastest time in an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:03.71, while Musgrave’s time was 1:04.31. Pittsburgh’s Ryan Redman swam the fastest time in the morning prelims in 1:03.07.
The evening finals are tonight at 6:30 p.m.