Feb. 18, 2000
The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team jumped out to an early lead after day one of the 2000 BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Championships in Long Island, N.Y. The Irish, who won four events on the day, amassed 273 points, almost doubling Miami’s second-place total of 148. West Virginia is in third with 129 points followed by Pittsburgh (122) and Villanova (121).
Notre Dame swimmers set two BIG EAST and University records on day one as the 200 freestyle relay team of sophomore Brooke Davey, junior Carrie Nixon, sophomore Kelly Hecking and senior Laura Shepard opened the meet by finishing first in a time of 1:32.64. The Irish easily broke the BIG EAST and school record of 1:32.96 set by the same group last season.
Nixon also set a school and BIG EAST record in capturing the 50 freestyle title in 22.52. Nixon tied her own school and BIG EAST record of 22.62 in the morning preliminary swim and then broke the record in the finals. The junior from Ouray, Colo., also automatically qualified for the 2000 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., in four weeks.
Nixon completed her record setting day by anchoring the BIG EAST champion 400 medley relay team. Nixon, along with teammates Hecking, senior Shannon Suddarth and senior Elizabeth Barger, won the race in a time of 3:42.69, setting a meet record, but just missing the school record of 3:42.62 set by Hecking, Brittany Kline, Barger and Nixon last season. Nixon has now won eight BIG EAST titles in her career and holds six Notre Dame and five BIG EAST swimming records.
Notre Dame’s last event win came in the 500 freestyle as junior Kristen Van Saun and senior Alison Newell finished 1-2 in the event with Van Saun claiming the title in 4:49.93. It was the first individual BIG EAST title in Van Saun’s career after placing second in the event last season.
In diving, sophomore Heather Mattingly placed fourth with 465.40 points. Notre Dame senior Gina Ketelhohn was seventh with 421.85 points and junior Karli Richards was 13th with 377.75 points.
The 2000 BIG EAST Championships continue Friday with preliminaries at 10 a.m. and finals beginning at 6:30 p.m.
TEAM STANDINGS 1. Notre Dame 273, 2. Miami 148, 3. West Virginia 129, 4. Pittsburgh 122, 5. Villanova 121, 6. Rutgers 97, 7. Connecticut 77, 8. Boston College 60, 9. Syracuse 58, 10. Georgetown 28, 11. Seton Hall 26, 12. St. John’s 24, 13. Providence 16.
RESULTS 200 YARD FREESTYLE RELAY 1. NOTRE DAME (Davey, Nixon, Hecking, Shepard), 1:32.64*, 2. VILLANOVA (Long, Lapinsky, Mesplier, Olson), 1:34.24, 3. WEST VIRGINIA (Arnold, Reisenweber, Crouch, Dahm), 1:35.79.
THREE-METER DIVING 1. Jenny Keim (Miami), 549.10, 2. Jamie Tomazich (Pittsburgh), 495.25, 3. Emily Spychala (Miami), 470.50. Other Notre Dame scores: 4. Heather Mattingly 465.40, 7. Gina Ketelhohn 421.85, 13. Karli Richards 377.75.
500-YARD FREESTYLE 1. Kristen Van Saun (Notre Dame), 4:49.93, 2. Alison Newell (Notre Dame), 4:51.97, 3. Emily Colley (Pittsburgh), 4:53.56. Other Notre Dame Times: 11. Lindsay Moorhead 4:57.34
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY 1. Jennifer Weir (Miami), 2:01.43*, 2. Elaine Schwartz (Miami), 2:03.56, 3. Brittany White (Miami), 2:04.63. Other Notre Dame Times: 6. Allison Lloyd 2:06.55, 8. Elizabeth Barger 2:07.08, 9. Tiffany O’Brien 2:05.42, 10. Shannon Suddarth 2:06.32, 11. Amy Deger 2:06.63
50-YARD FREESTYLE 1. Carrie Nixon (Notre Dame), 22.58, Krista Arnold (West Virginia), 23.16, 3. Kirsten Olson (Villanova), 23.55. Other Notre Dame Times: 4. Laura Shepard 23.57, 6. Brooke Davey 23.84, 7. Kelly Hecking 23.97, 10. Meghan Lynch 23.96
400-YARD MEDLEY RELAY 1. Notre Dame (Hecking, Suddarth, Barger, Nixon), 3:42.69*, 2. West Virginia (McGough, Felker, Caprigno, Reisenweber), 3:50.50, 2. Villanova (Lapinsky, Corby, Mesplier, Brock), 3:50.50.