March 2, 1997

More Records Fall at Shamrock Classic

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – After having three Rolfs Aquatic Center records fall yesterday, two more werebroken today in the Shamrock Classic.

Notre Dame freshman Shannon Suddarth, who yesterday broke the 100-yard breaststroke pool record, beat theold pool record by more than a second with a time of 2:17.99.

Earlier in the meet, Emily Wang of Illinois recorded a time of 51.41 in the 100-yard freestyle. This establisheda new pool record previously held by Rebecca Andrew of Kansas, and also placed her under consideration for theNCAA women’s championship held March 20-22 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Freshman Alison Newell recorded the top time of the season in the woman’s 400-meter individual medley relaywith a time of 4:27.48 during the trials.

No team scores were kept. The Shamrock Classic is designed for swimmers to better their times, and possiblyreach in the NCAA Championship.

So far only one member of the Irish has unconditionally qualified for the NCAA championship. Senior Erin Brooksqualified in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:57.56 at the BIG EAST Championship last month.

Mar. 1, 1997

Pool Records Fall At First Annual Shamrock Classic

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Three Rolfs Aquatic Center records werebroken at the first annual Shamrock Classic at the University of NotreDame on Saturday night.

In the 100-meter breaststroke, Irish freshman Shannon Suddarthbroke fellow teammate Brittany Kline’s record set earlier in the daywith a time of 1:04.55. Kline’s time, 1:04.94, beat out Kelly Williamstime of 1:05.14.

No team scores were kept in the men’s and women’s meet. TheShamrock Classic is designed for swimmers to try and achieve the timesthat will be necessary to get them in the 1997 NCAA SwimmingChampionships in Indianapolis on May 20-22.

Only five events into the meet, Michigan State’s Dianne Oliverbroke Rebecca Andrew’s previous record of 23.82 sec in the 50-meterfreestyle, with a time of 23.66 in the preliminaries.

Eight events later, another Spartan, Jami Archambault broke ErinBrooks’ 1993 record with a time of 56.13 in the 100-meter backstroke.Archambault wasn’t done yet. Less than eight hours later she brokethat mark with a time of 55.99 which also is a NCAA considerationtime.

In the woman’s 800-yard freestyle relay, the Illinois teamrecorded a time of 7:25.15 betting the previous record set byVillanova in 1990 by 12 seconds.

For the swim team, it is a period of waiting to see which of theirconsolation times will earn them a place in the NCAA championship.Erin Brooks is the only Notre Dame swimmer to post an automaticqualifying time with her performance in the 200-meter backstroke.