March 18, 2012
AUBURN, Ala. – Sophomore Kelly Ryan and freshman Emma Reaney cemented their names into the Notre Dame women’s swimming record books as they each earned All-America accolades on the final day of the Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday.
Ryan, who finished seventh in the 200 back, picked up her first All-America citation, while Reaney earned her third Honorable Mention All-America scroll of the meet with a 14th place finish in the 200 breast.
The Hinsdale, Ill., product finished sixth in the prelims of the 200 back to lock in her All-America position. Her time of 1:53.67 topped her season best by nearly two seconds. She came back in the finals to finish seventh in 1:54.16 to earn the Irish 12 points. She also swam in the 100 free prelims just minutes after swimming the 200 back prelims, finishing 44th in 49.68.
Ryan put together the highest finish for an Irish women’s swimmer in the 200 back since Erin Brooks placed seventh in 1997.
The Lawrence, Kan., native placed 13th in the prelims of the 200 breast in a new season-best time of 2:09.90. She lowered her time in the finals to 2:09.73, finishing 14th.
Reaney becomes the first Irish women’s swimmer since Kelly Hecking and Carrie Nixon in 2002, and only the fifth ever, to earn three or more All-America certificates at one NCAA meet.
Between the two, they become the first two Irish swimmers to combine for four or more All-America certificates since 2002. In 2005 swimmer Katie Carroll and diver Meghan Perry-Eaton each earned two.
With the Reaney’s and Ryan’s performances, the Irish finished with 30 points, good for 22nd place. The finish is the best for Notre Dame since 2002, when the Irish finished 19th with nine swimmers and divers competing.
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