Feb. 16, 2007
LONG BEACH, Calif. -
As the third of four days of action at the 2007 Pacific-10 Conference Women's Swimming Championships concluded in , , greatly improved its overall team standing, placed swimmers within the top five in three events and achieved five total NCAA individual and relay qualifying standards.
With 14 of 21 total events in the books, the Sun Devils current ranks sixth in the overall standings, having totaled 371 points during the first three days.
Leading the way for the Sun Devils was Caitlin Andrew, who has been enjoying an excellent Championships meet thus far. On Friday, Andrew advanced to the finals round in both the 100 fly and 100 back, notching automatic NCAA Championship times in both finals. In the 100 fly, the native placed third overall, touching in 52.51. Competing for the Pac-10 Championship in the 100 back, Andrew placed fifth overall with an NCAA `A' cut time of 54.00, an improvement from her preliminary time and only .19 seconds off her ASU record time in the event.
Sophomore Jen Beckberger joined Andrew as finalist during Friday's action, as she advanced to the 200 freestyle finals round. Ultimately, Beckberger notched an NCAA `B' qualifying time of 1:48.95, placing seventh overall in the conference.
For the third consecutive day, ASU fielded an NCAA-worthy relay performance, as freshman Mirela Kardasevic, freshman Sara McDaniel, Andrew and Beckberger combined to complete the 400 medley relay in 3:42.64, good for an NCAA `B' consideration mark and the relay finished fifth overall in the Pac-10 Conference.
McDaniel also chipped in a very impressive individual performance in the 100 breast, attaining an NCAA `B' qualifying mark by swimming the event in 1:03.25 as a competitor in the `A' consolation round.
Several other Sun Devils saw action among the very best the Pac-10 Conference has to offer, including consolation bonus performances by junior Emlynn Tursick in the 400 IM, freshman Ashton Aubry in the 100 fly, senior Abra Armour in the 200 free, junior Lindsey Russenberger in the 100 breast and both Kardasevic and senior Carissa Abe competed in the consolation bonus round of the 100 back.
The fourth and final day of action will begin Saturday, Feb. 17, as the preliminary and final rounds of the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and 400 freestyle relay will be held throughout the day, as the Sun Devils look to continue their surge up the conference rankings as the 2007 Pac-10 Women's Swimming Championship comes to a close.