University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Start Strong at the Minnesota Grand Prix
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
The No. 9 University of Minnesota women’s swim team had eight swimmers compete in the A Final, while 13 competed in the B Final in the first of the three-day Minnesota Grand Prix, tonight, at the University Aquatic Center. The Gophers have scored 230 points, which leads the team competition.
Minnesota led off the meet with five swimmers scoring in the 100 breaststroke event. Jillian Tyler led the Gophers with a fourth-place finish overall in a final time of 1:01.90. Kimberly Kazika also competed in the A Final with a season-best time of 1:05.59. Minnesota had three compete in the B Final, while two competed in the C Final. Kait Strickland touched the wall in a season-best time of 1:06.11, followed by Corina Hopkins-Vacca in 14th (1:07.19) and Avery Michienzi finished 15th (1:07.57). Katie Budahl won the C Final in a time of 1:06.74, while Andrea Hanson finished 20th overall (1:08.26). Former Gopher Keri Hehn placed second overall in the event in a time of 1:00.79.
Like the 100 breast, Tyler led the Gophers in the 100 fly event as well when she finished sixth overall in a time of 56.56. Danielle Ridder followed with a seventh-place finish in the same event in a time of 56.95. Molly Belk added a 10th-placea showing with a time of 56.89, while Nilsson placed 12th in 57.61. Jensen and Linzey Bachmeier also competed in the 100 fly B final, placing 15th (58.52) and 16th (58.84) overall. DeWall won the C Final (56.16), followed by Kelsey Ridder (58.28) in 20th and Kayla Redig in 21st (58.37).
Yuen Kobayashi led the Gophers in the 200 free event with a time of 1:49.76 and a seventh overall finish. Meredith McCarthy placed 14th overall in 1:52.03, while Christine Jennings placed 15th in 1:52.08. Stacy Busack and Megan Braun took the top two spots in the C Final, finishing in times of 1:53.09 and 1:53.94.
Minnesota held the 5-8 spots in the 200 individual medley finals. DeWall led the Gophers with a fifth-place finish of 2:05.40, followed by Roxane Akradi in sixth with a time of 2:06.95. Nilsson placed seventh overall (2:07.05), while Strickland rounded out the A Final with an eighth-place time of 2:07.64. The Gophers also had four compete in the 200 IM B Final. Danielle Ridder placed 11th in 2:08.13 and Hanson took home 14th in 2:10.03. Erin Forster and Alicia Jensen placed 15th and 16th overall in times of 2:10.33 and 2:12.56. Braun and Kazika competed in the C Final, finishing 21st and 22nd overall.
The Gophers closed out the first day with the top-two spots in the 800 free relay event. Minnesota’s A relay of Jenny Shaughnessy, Kobayashi, McCarthy and Jennings combined for a time of 7:26.18. The Gophers’ B relay of Braun, Busack, Megan Radecke and Kelsey Ridder teamed together for a second-place time of 7:41.52.
The Gophers will continue action tomorrow at the aquatic center. Events held tomorrow are the 400 IM, 50 free, 200 breast, 100 back, 500 free and the 400 medley relay.
Minnesota led off the meet with five swimmers scoring in the 100 breaststroke event. Jillian Tyler led the Gophers with a fourth-place finish overall in a final time of 1:01.90. Kimberly Kazika also competed in the A Final with a season-best time of 1:05.59. Minnesota had three compete in the B Final, while two competed in the C Final. Kait Strickland touched the wall in a season-best time of 1:06.11, followed by Corina Hopkins-Vacca in 14th (1:07.19) and Avery Michienzi finished 15th (1:07.57). Katie Budahl won the C Final in a time of 1:06.74, while Andrea Hanson finished 20th overall (1:08.26). Former Gopher Keri Hehn placed second overall in the event in a time of 1:00.79.
Like the 100 breast, Tyler led the Gophers in the 100 fly event as well when she finished sixth overall in a time of 56.56. Danielle Ridder followed with a seventh-place finish in the same event in a time of 56.95. Molly Belk added a 10th-placea showing with a time of 56.89, while Nilsson placed 12th in 57.61. Jensen and Linzey Bachmeier also competed in the 100 fly B final, placing 15th (58.52) and 16th (58.84) overall. DeWall won the C Final (56.16), followed by Kelsey Ridder (58.28) in 20th and Kayla Redig in 21st (58.37).
Yuen Kobayashi led the Gophers in the 200 free event with a time of 1:49.76 and a seventh overall finish. Meredith McCarthy placed 14th overall in 1:52.03, while Christine Jennings placed 15th in 1:52.08. Stacy Busack and Megan Braun took the top two spots in the C Final, finishing in times of 1:53.09 and 1:53.94.
Minnesota held the 5-8 spots in the 200 individual medley finals. DeWall led the Gophers with a fifth-place finish of 2:05.40, followed by Roxane Akradi in sixth with a time of 2:06.95. Nilsson placed seventh overall (2:07.05), while Strickland rounded out the A Final with an eighth-place time of 2:07.64. The Gophers also had four compete in the 200 IM B Final. Danielle Ridder placed 11th in 2:08.13 and Hanson took home 14th in 2:10.03. Erin Forster and Alicia Jensen placed 15th and 16th overall in times of 2:10.33 and 2:12.56. Braun and Kazika competed in the C Final, finishing 21st and 22nd overall.
The Gophers closed out the first day with the top-two spots in the 800 free relay event. Minnesota’s A relay of Jenny Shaughnessy, Kobayashi, McCarthy and Jennings combined for a time of 7:26.18. The Gophers’ B relay of Braun, Busack, Megan Radecke and Kelsey Ridder teamed together for a second-place time of 7:41.52.
The Gophers will continue action tomorrow at the aquatic center. Events held tomorrow are the 400 IM, 50 free, 200 breast, 100 back, 500 free and the 400 medley relay.
Players Mentioned
Free/Back
/ Women's Swimming & DivingSpr Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingSpr Free Breast
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBack
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBack
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingDist Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreaststroke
/ Women's Swimming & DivingDist Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreaststroke
/ Women's Swimming & DivingIM Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingIM Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree Fly IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingIM Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingVivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Bronze
Monday, March 24
Del Angel Earns B1G Platform Diving Silver
Saturday, February 22
Vivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Title
Monday, March 25
Megan Van Berkom Wins 400 IM
Monday, February 26