NCAA update: Badgers advance relay to finals
March 19, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The Wisconsin women's swimming team advanced its team to the championship final in the 400-yard medley relay Thursday, as the Badgers opened the 2009 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships with preliminaries in several events.
The Badgers' quartet of sophomore Maggie Meyer, freshman Ashley Wanland, sophomore Karlyn Hougan and freshman Beckie Thompson were eighth-fastest in the prelims of the 400 medley relay, clocking in at 3:33.37.
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The time, which just missed the UW school record of 3:33.26 set by the same foursome last month, gave the Badgers the eighth and final spot in the championship final. Finals in the events contested Thursday morning are set to begin at 7 p.m.
Meyer and Thompson also were strong individually, as they both advanced to the consolation final in the 50-yard freestyle. Thompson was 11th-fastest in the prelims of the event, as she posted a time of 22.14 seconds to finish just off her own school-record time of 22.09.
Meyer moved into second place behind Thompson on the Badgers' all-time list in the event with a career-best performance of 22.18, which gave the sophomore the 13th-fastest prelims time. The swim cut an impressive .39 seconds off Meyer's previous personal-best time.
Meyer and Thompson also were part of the Badgers' entry in the 200 freestyle relay, which earned a spot in the consolation finals, as well. The duo combined with senior Christine Zwiegers and sophomore Kelsey Gergen to clock the 13th-fastest time in 1:29.42.
Also Thursday, junior Candice Peak was 48th in the prelims of the 200 individual medley, finishing in 2:00.67, and junior Gabby Maddalena clocked in as the 51st overall finisher in the 500 freestyle, in 4:48.32.
