March 7, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -
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, - As the 2007 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships begin Thursday at the in , No. 23 Arizona State University sends seven swimmers to compete for individual and relay championships, scheduled to appear in a total of eight events.
Headlined by junior Caitlin Andrew, who has qualified to compete for three individual and three relay championships, the Sun Devils enter the NCAA Championships riding the momentum of a remarkable overall performance at February's Pacific-10 Conference Championships, in which the team broke a total of five individual and relay school records.
On Thursday, March 8, Andrew will join senior Abra Armour, sophomore Jen Beckberger and freshman Jess Perazzo in the first event of the three-day championship meet, the 200 freestyle relay. The group earned its NCAA appearance by posting an ASU record time of 1:30.84 at the Pac-10 Championships, passing the previous mark of 1:31.74, set in 2005.
As the event continues, Andrew, Armour and Perazzo will return to compete in the 50 freestyle. Andrew became the school record holder in the event while competing at the Pac-10 Championships, first setting the record in the event's preliminary round with a time of 22.63, only to improve upon that time in the finals round with an ASU standard finish of 22.39.
Friday, ASU will send its second of three relays to compete in the 200 medley relay. The relay will be comprised of the Sun Devil record-holing squad of freshman Sara McDaniel, Andrew, Beckberger and senior Carissa Abe, which collectively finished in 1:40.08 at the Pac-10 Championships, breaking the school mark set in 2001.
After competing in a pair of relays, Andrew will have the opportunity to showcase her individual prowess, swimming for championships in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. One of the finest breaststroke swimmers in the country, the native also appeared in both events at last year's NCAA Championships, finishing as the national runner-up in the 100 fly with an ASU record time of 52.23. Also, this will mark the third consecutive year that she will have competed in the 100 fly at the NCAA Championships, placing fourth overall as a freshman in 2005.
"Caitlin Andrew is seeded very well, especially in the 100 fly, where she has competed very well at this level before," says Chasson. "We will look for her to be able to score individual points to go along with our relays."
ASU will also look for scoring contributions from a variety of individual swimmers during action on Friday and Saturday, as McDaniel will compete in the 100 breaststroke Friday, while the trio of Armour, junior Lindsey Brown and Perazzo will swim the 100 freestyle on Saturday.
The Sun Devils will send its third and final relay to the blocks Saturday to wrap up the 2007 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, as the group consisting of Andrew, Armour, Brown and Beckberger, which set the ASU record of 3:18.38 in the event at the Pac-10 Championships, will compete for national acclaim. Highlighting the historic achievement at the Pac-10 Championships was Andrew's additional Sun Devil record, gained by swimming the opening leg of the relay in 49.25, improving upon her ASU 100 freestyle record.
Last season, the Sun Devil women placed 29th overall at the NCAA Championships, however having qualified three relays and six total appearances in individual events for the 2007 Championships, ASU has earned the ability to greatly increase its overall scoring chances.
2007 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship Schedule of Events:
Thursday, March 8
Preliminaries (11 a.m.)
200 freestyle relay
500 freestyle
200 individual medley
50 freestyle
400 medley relay
1 p.m.
1-meter diving
Finals (7 p.m.)
200 freestyle relay
500 freestyle
200 individual medley
50 freestyle
1-meter diving (finals)
400 medley relay
Friday, March 9
Preliminaries (11 a.m.)
200 medley relay
400 individual medley
100 butterfly
200 freestyle
100 breaststroke
100 backstroke
1 p.m.
3-meter diving
Finals (7 p.m.)
200 medley relay
400 individual medley
100 butterfly
200 freestyle
100 breaststroke
100 backstroke
3-meter diving (finals)
800 freestyle relay
Saturday, March 10
Preliminaries (11 a.m.)
200 backstroke
100 freestyle
200 breaststroke
200 butterfly
400 freestyle relay
1 p.m.
platform diving
4 p.m.
1650 freestyle (all but last heat of timed finals)
Finals (7 p.m.)
1650 freestyle (last heat of timed finals)
200 backstroke
100 freestyle
200 breaststroke
200 butterfly
platform diving (finals)
400 freestyle relay