Feb. 29, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame’s Emma Reaney and Kelly Ryan are heading to next month’s NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships as the duo earned invites based on their rankings in select events, it was announced on Wednesday.
The NCAA Championships will be held March 15-17 at James E. Martin Aquatics Center on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. Fans can watch all three days on ESPN3.com, with a rebroadcast of the finals scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 on ESPNU.
Reaney received invites in the 200 IM and the 100 breast, while Ryan was invited in the 200 back. Because the pair earned invites, they can compete in up to three individual events that they have NCAA B-cuts in.
Reaney’s time of 1:56.42 in the 200 IM won her the BIG EAST crown in the event and qualified her 10th in the country. The Lawrence, Kan., product is also the top freshman in the event. Reaney was also invited in the 100 breast, which she won at BIG EAST in 59.83. The time puts her 14th in the country, including the second-highest freshman. Reaney can also compete in the 200 breast, which she swam in 2:11.42 at BIG EAST to finish in second place.
Ryan earned an invite in the 200 back, qualifying 30th with a time of 1:55.56, as she won the BIG EAST title in the event. The Hinsdale, Ill., product can also compete in the 100 back, which she swam in 53.32 on the lead leg of the winning 400 medley relay team at the BIG EAST Championships to qualify 33rd, and the 100 free, which she swam in 49.38 to win the BIG EAST title and qualify 48th.
The Irish have now qualified at least two individuals for the NCAAs every year since 1997. Last year Samantha Maxwell and Kim Holden qualified for the NCAAs. Maxwell finished 17th in the 100 breast to pace the Irish.
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