Missouri Valley Conference Championships

CARBONDALE, Illinois, February 14. THE Missouri State women's swimming and diving team clinched the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Championship crown with a total of 944.50 team points, Saturday evening at the Dr. Edward Shea Natatorium on the campus of Southern Illinois University. Missouri State dominated the field, outscoring MVC runner-up Illinois State by 174.5 team points. Illinois State claimed second at the league's meet with 770 points, followed by host Southern Illinois with 716 points, Northern Iowa with 361 points and Evansville with 325.50 points.

In the first event of the day, the 1650 freestyle, the Bears turned in two top-five finishes with freshmen Dimi Drakopoulos and Michelle Schaefer claiming second and fourth, respectively. Drakopoulos touched the wall at 17:13.84 and Schaefer clocked a time of 17:21.81 in the mile race.

Senior Jordan Hawkins continued to excel as she brought home top honors in the 200 backstroke, winning the event with a time of 1:58.71. Hawkins broke her own previous MVC record in the event and also set a new MSU varsity record. For her outstanding performances in the league's meet, Hawkins was named MVC Swimmer of the Year.

Fran Moody captured her first career individual MVC Championship win in the 200 breaststroke, clocking a personal best time of 2:21.72. Stacey MacDonald took fifth in the event in a time of 2:26.95.

Sophomore butterfly specialist, Chelsea Dirks-Ham set a new MSU and MVC record in the 200 butterfly with a personal best time of 2:03.76. Teammate Breanna Hollar was runner-up in the event with a time of 2:05.11.

Special thanks to Missouri State for contributing this report.

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