University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Win Two Events to Close Out Grand Prix
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
The No. 9 University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team completed the Grand Prix, tonight at the University Aquatic Center. Along with the Minnesota Diving Invite, over 460 athletes competed at the three-day USA Swimming event.
Minnesota dominated the 100 freestyle, placing five in the A Final. Stacy Busack won her second individual event of the Grand Prix when she won the 100 free today. Busack, who won the 50 free yesterday, held a season-best time of 50.33 in the 100 free. Meagan Radecke placed third (51.89), while Marissa Davies was fourth (51.98). Yuen Kobayashi and Kaylee Jamison tied for sixth overall with a time of 52.06. The Gophers also had three compete in the B Final. Amy Funk finished 13th overall (53.25), followed by Jenna Lennertz (53.27) in 14th overall and Melissa Nelson in 16th (53.40).
Minnesota went 1-2 in the 400 free relay and three of the top four spots. Alison Eggers, Busack, Radecke and Kobayashi combined for a winning time of 3:25.51, while Jamison, Davies, Braun and Funk held a second-place time of 3:29.37. Minnesota’s C relay of Lennertz, Amanda Borgardt, Nelson and Belk finished fourth overall in 3:31.34. Minnesota’s D relay of Kelsey Ridder, Whitehead, Clementi and Miller placed sixth in 3:35.45.
Ashley Steenvoorden and Yuen Kobayashi led the Gophers in the 1,650 free. Steenvoorden touched the wall in 16:27.25 for third, while Kobayashi was fourth in the event in 16:33.48. Kristen Steenvoorden finished eighth in 16:53.27, while Lissa Tommerdahl added a 12th-place showing of 17:01.49.
Minnesota had three in the A Final of the 200 back. Deidre DeWall finished third (2:02.46), while Hannah Whitehead was fourth (2:03.76) and Cory Miller finished sixth (2:04.69). Lisa Clementi and Lauren Smith each competed in the 200 Back B Final as Clementi finished 13th (2:09.31), while Smith was 14th overall in 2:10.48.
The Gophers added another three qualifiers in the 200 butterfly final. Molly Belk clocked a season-best time of 2:00.98 for second overall as Mary Descenza won the event in 1:57.06. Kelsey Ridder finished fifth (2:04.99), while Megan Braun finished eighth (2:06.41).
Minnesota will take the next two weeks off to prepare for its biggest invite of the first semester. The Gophers head to Columbus, Ohio as they compete in the Ohio State Invite, Dec. 5-7.
Players Mentioned
