CALVIN SPORTS REPORT (Part Two) FOR MARCH 11, 2005
WOMEN'S SWIMMING
HOLLAND * For the first time in school history, Calvin College has a national champion swimmer.
Calvin sophomore Becky Weima achieved the feat on Friday night as she captured the national championship in the 200 freestyle at the NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships at the Holland Aquatic Center.
A graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, Weima captured the national title with a school record time of 1:50.29, breaking her own school record time of 1:50.36 established during the morning prelims.
Weima finished more than a full second ahead of runner-up Marie Marsman of Carleton. A year ago, Weima had finished second in the event behind Kenyon's Agnese Azolina.
"I am absolutely thrilled for Becky," said Calvin women's swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "I know this is something that she has worked very hard for and it was incredibly pleasing to see her up on the victory stand tonight."
Weima has now earned individuals NCAA III All-America honors five times in her collegiate career including twice at this year's national meet as she was the runner-up in the 500 freestyle Thursday evening.
Weima's night was not done however as she also swam a leg on Calvin's 800 freestyle relay team that also included freshman Stephanie Duncan (Long Grove, IL), freshman Megan Diekema (Zeeland HS) and junior Abby Johnson (Grand Haven HS). The Calvin quartet churned its way to a fourth place and NCAA III All-America time of 7:41.58 that was just over a tenth of a second away from a school record performance.
The fourth place finish is the highest-ever national finish by a Calvin women's relay team. Calvin touched out fifth place Amherst by two-tenths of a second and was just a half-second behind third place Carleton College.
"Our relay team was tremendous," said Gelderloos. "The great thing about that group is that no-one on that team is a senior. Two of the relay members were swimming in their first-ever national meet and yet they stepped up to the challenge. It was a great way to end our night and we're hoping to do a little more tomorrow."
The relay finish allowed Calvin to remain in 11th place in the team standings. The Knights have 91 points, one point behind 10th place Middlebury.
Also participating for Calvin on Friday were Johnson in the 100 backstroke, Duncan in the 200 freestyle, sophomore Alex Wilson (Ellsworth, OH) and sophomore Liz Ingebrigtsen (Bensenville, IL), Wilson, Duncan and freshman Kat Vinson (Kaneohe, HI) in the 200 medley relay. Johnson was 19th in the prelims of the 100 backstroke, Wilson 23rd in the 100 breaststroke and Duncan 23rd in the 200 freestyle. Calvin's 200 medley relay team also took 19th in the prelims but did not advance to the finals.
Scheduled to compete for Calvin on Saturday are Johnson in the 200 backstroke, Weima and Ducan in the 100 freestyle, Wilson in the 200 breaststroke and Weima, Ingebrigtsen Duncan and Vinson in the 400 freestyle relay.
Weima is seeded third in the 100 freestyle while Calvin's 400 freestyle relay is seeded sixth.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Mar 12 00:14:29 2005
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