Day Two Swimming Prelims in the Books at ACC Championships

Feb. 19, 2009

Results

The Tigers had a strong showing in the morning’s events, placing three student-athletes in the finals of the day two finals. Several Tigers hit personal bests, including Rachel Regone, Cassy LaRussa, Lauren Sindall, and Alex Allen. Clemson enters the finals in sixth place overall.

The finals will be broadcast live on ACC Select from Eppley Recreation Center at the University of Maryland, beginning at 5:15 p.m. and there is no charge for the event. Diving will start at that time, with the swimming events to follow beginning at approximately 7:00 p.m. Fans can also track results live here.

Cassy LaRussa led the Tigers in the early-going, notching an eighth place finish in the 500 freestyle in prelims, and will compete in the finals. The senior from Emmaus, Pa. notched a career-best 4:46.03, moving her into fourth all-time in Clemson history in the event, and picking up an NCAA-B cut in the process.

Senior Summer O’Donnell and junior Rachel Hesler qualified for the bonus consolation finals to be held at night as well. Hesler set a career-best with a 4:55.05 in the prelims. Sarah Smith and Mandy Snell competed as well, both coming in under five minutes, to finish 28th and 31st, respectively.

The Tigers struck to put two in the finals of the 50 free. Rachel Regone lowered her school-record to 22.27 during the preliminary heat to finish second. Lauren Sindall also had a career-best, posting a 22.60. Alexandra Allen also had a career-best 23.09 to place 18th, and earner her a spot in the bonus consolation finals.

For Regone, it was her third school-record in as many swims so far during these ACC Championships. She was part of the 200 medley relay and 800 free relay on Wednesday night. Sindall was able to further distance herself as the second-best 50 free swimmer in Clemson history, dropping her personal best by 0.4 seconds. Allen also moved into the all-time top five with her 23.09. These three will all compete in this evening’s finals, and will team up with Michelle Parkhurst to try and defend their 200 free relay title.

Katrina Obas led the Tigers in the 200 IM, qualifying for the bonus consolation finals with a 2:03.28. Carmen Groenewoud, Elizabeth Savage, and Kerry McLaughlin all put up season-best times, but did not qualify for the evening’s competition.