RELEASED: Friday, February 22, 2008

UW-La Crosse Women Splash To Early Lead at Swimming and Diving Championship

Oshkosh, Wis.--UW-La Crosse won four of the six events and splashed to the early lead after Thursday's (Feb. 21) action at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Swimming and Diving Championship in UW-Oshkosh's Albee Hall.

UW-La Crosse paces the six-team field with 300 points. Two-time defending champion UW-Stevens Point sits in second place with 235 points, UW-Eau Claire third with 190, UW-Whitewater fourth with 105, UW-River Falls fifth with 67 and UW-Oshkosh sixth with 66.

UW-La Crosse's Amanda Medendorp became a three-time champion in the three-meter diving by totaling 435.80 points. She was followed by teammates Kristina Wanous in second place with 429.20 points, Shannon Doyle in third place with 401.50, Samantha Koch in fourth place with 399.90 and Rachael Lavalley in fifth place with 375.40.

UW-La Crosse also had Chelsea Hoff win the 50-yard freestyle with a WIAC-record time of 23.93.

The Eagles also won a pair of relay titles. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Hoff, Clare Hathaway, Brianna Peyer and Danielle Rux swam to a time of 1:37.00. Hoff, Hathaway, Katelyn Hartung and Sarah Russart won the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:59.25.

The remaining titles awarded on Thursday went to UW-Stevens Point's Abby Strobel and UW-Eau Claire's Amanda Kroger. Strobel recorded a time of 2:11.32 to win the 200-yard individual medley for the second straight year. Kroger took first place in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:10.10.

Day One Champions
50-Yard Freestyle: Chelsea Hoff (UW-La Crosse), 23.93*
500-Yard Freestyle: Amanda Kroger (UW-Eau Claire), 5:10.10
200-Yard Individual Medley: Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 2:11.32

200-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-La Crosse (Chelsea Hoff, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux, Clare Hathaway), 1:37.00

400-Yard Medley Relay: UW-La Crosse (Kristi Parker, Sarah Russart, Chelsea Hoff, Katelyn Hartung), 3:59.25

One-Meter Diving: Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse), 435.80

*WIAC Record

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