Tigers Finish Seventh at ACC Championships

Feb. 21, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, MD – The women’s swimming and diving concluded competition at the 2009 ACC Championship in the Eppley Recreation Center Natatorium in College Park, Md. The Lady Tigers took seventh place overall after amassing 302 points. The Tigers had a number of school records in the meet, and there were several ACC records broken during the meet.

The finals of each day can be viewed for free on ACCselect.com.

Clemson had two All-ACC performers, Michelle Parkhurst and Rachel Regone. Parkhurst claimed the ACC title in the 200 free and will await word on whether or not she will be qualified to attend the NCAA Championships. Regone was the silver medalist in the 50 free after posting a school-record 22.25. The two also teamed up with Lauren Sindall and Alex Allen in the 200 free relay to take the silver.

Michelle Parkhurst earned her third medal of the meet as she picked up silver in the 200 backstroke with a school record and NCAA-B 1:54.21. It as also a lifetime best for the senior. On Friday, she won the ACC championship in the 200 freestyle, and also picked up a silver in the 200 free relay.

On the platform diving event, freshman Brooke George had her best showing of the meet, placing 11th overall. Cassie Self placed 22nd for the Tigers as the freshman tandem represented Clemson well in their first ACC Championship appearance.

Cara Lennon improved on her morning time, which placed her third on Clemson’s all-time list. She put in a 1:59.48 to finish 14th overall, which landed the Tigers important points. Additionally, Kelli Kyle won the bonus consolation free with a 1:58.86, the second-best time in Tiger history, surpassing Lennon.

Cassy LaRussa started off the finals with an eighth-place finish in the 1650 freestyle in an NCAA-B 16:23.02. Sophomore Sarah Smith and junior Mandy Snell each contributed points in the mile as well, both clocking in under 17 minutes.

Rachel Regone continued her strong performance in the ACC championships, placing sixth in the 100 free with a 49.66 after swimming a 49.41 in prelims. Lauren Sindall also scored, picking up 16th overall with a 50.80 in the event.

Junior Katrina Obas followed up her school record in the 200 breast with a 16th place finish in the event after posting a 2:15.26 in prelims. In the final event of the night, the 400 free relay, the Tigers picked up a seventh place finish in 3:21.03.

The women will await word from the NCAA about whether or not they will qualify for competition. The men’s swimming team will be in action starting on Wednesday as they compete in the ACC Championships. The diver have already completed competition with results to be released during next week.