McCleave Named Pac-10 Swimmer Of The Month

PULLMAN, Wash. December, 19. WASHINGTON State’s Erin McCleave has been named the Pacific-10 Swimmer of the Month for November, conference commissioner Tom Hansen announced Friday. McCleave becomes the first swimmer to earn the honor in WSU history.

“Erin has trained with a purpose in mind since Pac-10s last year,” said WSU Head Swimming Coach Erica Quam. “She did a great job working hard in the summer to set herself up for some exciting performances so far this season and I believe the best is yet to come. The Pac-10 conference has many great athletes and for her to earn the Swimmer of the Month award amongst those competitors is quite an honor.”

McCleave won four events, set three WSU individual records, set two meet records and earned several NCAA cuts at the Minnesota Invitational (Nov. 18-20) to garner the conference award.

McCleave earned a meet and school record Friday, Nov. 18 posting a first place finish in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:45.82 in the second session of the Minnesota Invitational. McCleave's time bested the Minnesota Invitational meet record (4:45.99) held by 2004 Olympian Carly Piper. The Rutherglen, Australia native's finals performance shaved four seconds off her first session time (4:50.36) which broke the previous WSU record of 4:53.53 set in 2002.

McCleave continued her success in the second day of the meet (Nov. 19), swimming to a first place finish and school record in the 200 freestyle posting a time of 1:48.48 to beat her own record of 1:49.41 set in 2004. McCleave also anchored an 800 freestyle relay team that finished with a time of 7:26.94 earning the WSU record in the event.

In the final day of competition (Nov.20), McCleave swam to a time of 16:17.06 in the 1650 freestyle setting a WSU and Minnesota Invitational record while also earning a NCAA automatic qualifying standard. McCleave shaved 25 seconds off the previous record of 16:42.06 which she set at the Pacific Invitational (Oct. 28). McCleave also earned a NCAA "B" consideration standard in the 100 freestyle earning a first place finish with a lifetime best time of 50.69.

McCleave’s performance at the Minnesota Invitational was also recognized nationally as she was named the National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com for the week of Nov.17-21.

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