NCAA Announces Women’s Swimming and Diving Qualifiers

March 8, 2002

CLEMSON, SC – The NCAA announced the division-one women’s swimming and diving championship qualifiers earlier this week. Clemson qualified four relays for the championships, three of which are ranked in the top ten. In addition to the relays, Clemson placed athletes in six individual events, the highest total since 1988.

Clemson will enter the 200 medley relay ranked ninth in the country with a qualifying time of 1:31.39. The Tigers will compete as the tenth ranked team in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:40.76. Clemson will also compete in the 400 free relay as the tenth ranked team with a qualifying time of 3:20.53. Clemson’s 400 medley relay qualified 15th with a time of 3:42.43.

Jenna Burtch and Elise Thieler were invited to compete in the 50 free on the strength of their qualifying times. Burtch qualified with a time of 23.02, while Thieler posted a time of 23.13. Burtch was also invited to compete in the 200 free with a qualifying time of 1:49.36. Mandy Commons was invited to compete in the 100 breast with a time of 1:02.27.

Patty Hider will represent the Tigers in the 50 free, Thieler will compete in the 100 fly, Burtch and Christine Woodruff will compete in the 100 free and Mandy Commons will compete in the 200 breast.

The Clemson women will begin competition at the NCAA Championships on Mar. 21 in Austin, TX. The meet will take place over three days at the University of Texas at Austin.