Nov. 15, 2001
Notre Dame, Ind. – Seniors Carrie Nixon and Kelly Hecking, sophomores Marie Labosky, Laurie Musgrave and Lisa D’Olier and freshman Kristen Peterson rank in the top 25 nationally of their respective events announced today. The Irish, ranked 15th in the nation, also have three relay teams in the top 25.
Nixon, who earned All-America honors in the 50 freestyle as a junior, ranks third in the nation in the same event with a season-best time of 23.18. California’s Natalie Coughlin is first at 22.90. Nixon also ranks 14th in the 100 freestyle at 50.95, trailing Coughlin’s national-best time of 49.44.
Labosky, who qualified for the 2001 NCAA Championships in three events, currently ranks sixth in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 9:57.54. Florida’s Meredith Green has the nation’s best time in 9:48.75. Labosky, who earned honorable mention All-American in the 400 individual medley last season after finishing 11th at the NCAA meet, also ranks 18th in the event.
The Irish have two swimmers ranked in the backstroke as Hecking is currently ninth and Peterson is 20th in the 100 backstroke with times of 55.88 and 56.80, repsectively. Coughlin again ranks first nationally at 53.65. In the 200 backstroke, Peterson is currently 10th, while Hecking is 25th at 2:01.22 and 2:02.74, respectively. California’s Alice Henriques is first at 1:58.58.
Musgrave is ranked in the both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. In the 100 breaststroke, Musgrave’s season-best time is 1:03.96, good for 20th nationally. Stanford’s Tara Kirk is the leader at 1:01.30. Musgrave is also ranked 20th in the nation in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:18.17, trailing national leader Agnes Kovacs of Arizona State (2:11.27).
D’Olier, who won four BIG EAST titles her freshman season, is ranked 17th in the nation in the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.22. Coughlin ranks first in the event at 53.19. In the 200 butterfly, D”Olier is 22nd in 2:03.04. Stanford’s Shelly Ripple is the national leader at 1:57.26.
Also, the 400 freestyle relay team of freshman Katie Eckholt, sophomore Danielle Hulick, Hecking and Nixon is currently ranked seventh nationally in 3:26.88. Georgia ranks first at 3:22.81. The 200 medley relay team of Hecking, senior Allison Lloyd, Nixon and Eckholt is 16th nationally in 1:46.17, while the 400 medley relay of Hecking, Lloyd, D’Olier and Nixon is sixth in 3:45.48. Stanford ranks first in both events at 1:41.75 and 3:41.90, respectively.
The Irish are next in action this weekend at the highly competitive Minnesota Invitational, in Minneapolis, Minn.