Nov. 16, 2001

Minneapolis, Minn. – The Notre Dame women’s swimming team is in first place after day one of the Minnesota Invitational with 308 points. Wisconsin was second with 295 points, while Minnesota was third with 183.

Notre Dame had five event winners on day one as the 200 freestyle relay team of Katie Eckholt, Carrie Nixon, Kelly Hecking and Danielle Hulick placed first in a time of 1:33.68. Wisconsin was second in 1:34.35, while the Wisconsin B relay was third in 1:35.38.

Sophomore Marie Labosky claimed first place in the 200 individual medley, narrowly defeating Emily Pisula of Wisconsin. Labosky’s time of 2:03.02, edged Pisula’s 2:03.63. Notre Dame’s Lisa Garcia was third in 2:04.29, while junior Amy Deger was sixth in 2:06.85.

Nixon won her second event of the night when she touched first in the 50 freestyle in 22.99. Wisconsin’s Jennifer Lyman was second in 23.56, while the Badgers’ Christy Mullinax was third in 23.66. Notre Dame’s Hulick was sixth in 24.10.

Sophomore Meghan Perry-Eaton took first in the one-meter diving competition. Perry-Eaton, who set the Notre Dame six-dive record on the one-meter board against Purdue two weeks ago, scored 281.95 points. Minnesota’s Kim Bahmer was second with 265.10 points. Notre Dame’s Heather Mattingly was fifth with 250.50 points.

Notre Dame also won the final event of the evening – the 400 medley relay. The team of Hecking, Laurie Musgrave, Lisa D’Olier and Nixon were first in 3:46.40. Wisconsin was second in 3:47.41, while Notre Dame’s “B” team of Kristen Peterson, Allison Lloyd, Garcia and Eckholt were third in 3:47.73.

In the 500 freestyle, freshman Kelli Barton was third in 4:54.84.

The Minnesota Invitational continues tomorrow with preliminaries at 11 a.m. and the finals at 7:00 p.m.