Women's Swimmers Move Into 11th at NCAAs
March 21, 2003 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The Wisconsin women's swimmers moved up two spots Friday and finished day two of the 2003 NCAA Championships in 11th-place, one point shy of the top-10. With 77 points, Wisconsin trails Virginia, while host Auburn leads all teams with 389 points.
'I'm not necessarily happy with tonight, but we had a few bright spots,' coach Eric Hansen said. 'I'll take being one point out of 10th.'
Junior Bethany Pendleton and senior Sarah McCauley scored in individual events for the Badgers and were joined by sophomore Carly Piper and senior Jenny Lyman to touch fifth in the 800 free relay.
Pendleton, an All-American as a relay member, earned her first honorable mention All-American status in an individual event with a top-16 finish in the 400 IM. Pendleton finished 14th in prelims to advance to the consolation finals and placed seventh, 15th overall, in 4:17.79. Her top-16 finish in the 400 IM is just the second honorable mention All-American placement in the event for UW. Susie Topp took 14th in the 400 IM in 1998.
McCauley also earned her first All-American status in an individual event Friday. McCauley, who took second in the 200 free at the 2003 Big Ten meet, advanced to the finals in the event with a fifth-place prelims finish. McCauley equaled that effort in finals, touching fifth in 1:46.32.
In the day's final event, the Badgers were seeded in the championship heat of the 800 free relay due to their school record time recorded at this year's Big Tens. The Badgers have qualified for the 800 free relay finals the last six-straight years and nine out of the last 10 years.
Piper led off the Badger relay and Lyman and Pendleton followed. McCauley anchored the relay in her second 200 free performance of the day and the Badgers recorded a 7:12.19. Their fifth-place finish is the Badgers' second best finish all-time in the event and best since taking second in 2000.
The Badgers aim for the top-10 tomorrow with the meet's conclusion. Prelims start at 11 a.m. and finals begin at 7 p.m.
'The main thing we'll take into tomorrow is the fact we're just one point away from our goal,' Hansen said. 'I 'm anxious to see what we can do in pursuit of that.'
