Women's 200-Free Relay School Record Falls on First Day of UAA Championships
DAY ONE RESULTS
Rochester, N.Y., February 17, 2011 — The Washington University in St. Louis women’s 200-free relay record fell to highlight the first day of competition for the Bears’ men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at the 2011 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships on Thursday, Feb. 17, in Rochester, N.Y.
Through the first full day of action the WUSTL women’s team sits in third place out of seven schools with a team score of 344.5 points, while the men’s team is in fourth place, tallying 299.5 points.
Junior Karina Stridh, freshman Allison Siegel, freshman Chi Pham and junior Amy Vanlishout comprised the women’s 200-free relay team, placing second overall with a 2011 NCAA Division III Championship provisional qualifying mark of 1:36.49.
Pham and Stridh turned in impressive performances in a handful of other swims on Thursday night. Pham was the runner-up in the 200-yard individual medley, posting an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 2:05.36 in the final. Stridh finished third in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.98, which eclipsed the NCAA “B” cut qualifying standard.
Stridh, Pham, freshman Grace Murray and Siegel concluded the day with a fourth-place showing in the 400-medley relay. They submitted an NCAA provisional time of 3:54.64 in the relay and Stridh’s lead leg of 57.91 in the 100-backstroke was an NCAA “B” cut.
The men’s team saw three NCAA provisional finishes on Thursday. Senior David Chao tied for second in the 50-freestyle with a time of 20.93, while junior Chris Valach finished fourth in the 500-yard freestyle with swim of 4:35.65.
Chao, sophomore Mark Minowitz, senior Kartik Anjur and sophomore Brendan Morin teamed up to finish second in the 200-freestyle relay with a time of 1:23.49.
The Washington University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams continue competition at the UAA Championships on Friday, Feb. 18, in Rochester, N.Y. Preliminary action will commence at 10 a.m. (ET), with the finals session scheduled for 6 p.m.