Clemson Finishes Sixth At 2006 Swimming and Diving Championships

Feb. 18, 2006

College Park, MD- Kim Routh swam her way to a second silver medal in as many days, and the Clemson Women’s Swimming and Diving team finished sixth at the 2006 ACC Championships in College Park, MD. Routh (Sandusky, OH) finished the 1650 freestyle in an NCAA Automatic Qualifying time of 16:17.21. Also recording an NCAA Automatic Qualifying time was freshman Michelle Parkhurst. Parkhurst (Vienna, VA) finished the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:57.74 in a bronze medal effort.

Routh was one of four Lady Tigers who scored in the 1650 freestlye. Cassy LaRussa (16:40.61) finished sixth, Nichole Carlton (17:01.62) touched the wall in 12th, and Summer O’Donnell (17:03.56) finished 14th. Rachel Regone was the top finisher in the 100 freestyle for Clemson. Her time of 50.79 was enough for a fourth place finish and an NCAA Provisional Qualifying time. Ashley Shafer (2:20.09) recorded her fastest time of the season in the 200 breaststroke to finish 12th. Teammate Sarah Cefalu (2:21.79) touched the wall in 15th. To conclude the meet, the 400 freestyle relay of Regone, LaRussa, Nicole Kroeger, and Shafer finished sixth with a final time of 3:25.66.

Florida State won their first ever ACC Championship. The Seminols finished the meet with 596.5 points, ahead of second place Virginia who had 562 points. North Carolina was third with 517 points, and Virginia Tech was fourth with 409. Defending champion Maryland was fifth, turning in 383. Clemson came next, just nine points behind with 374.