NCAA Div. I Women: Notre Dame Downs Kansas in Acapulco

ACAPULCO, Mexico, Jan. 10. THE Notre Dame women's swimming and diving team won eight of 10 events in easily defeating Kansas 129-69 in a meet that occurred during a week-long training trip to Acapulco. With the win, Notre Dame improves to 4-1-1 in dual meets this season.

There was no men's meet as Kansas abolished its men's team two years ago, ostensibly for budgetary reasons.

After Kansas took the first event of the meet, the 200-meter medley relay (all races were competed in short course meters), Irish freshman Christel Bouvron won the first of two individual races for her on the day, winning the 200 freestyle in 2:08.04. Irish sophomore Sarah Alwen was second in 2:10.04, while Kansas' Jackie Krueger was third in 2:11.70.

Amy Gruber won the only individual event for the Jayhawks as she took first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 27.61. Irish senior Heidi Hendrick was second in 27.82, while sophomore Katie Eckholt was third in 28.61.

Junior Lisa Garcia continued her impressive season with a victory in the 200 individual medley. Garcia's time of 2:22.24, just edged out Kansas' Gwen Haley (2:23.35) and Notre Dame's Laurie Musgrave (2:28.81).

Bouvron then won her second race of the day with a victory in the 100 butterfly, leading a 1-2-3 Irish sweep. The 2000 Singapore Olympian in the event, Bouvron easily won in 1:03.62. Garcia was second in 1:05.14, while Irish sophomore Brooke Taylor was third in 1:07.67. Junior Lisa D'Olier was fifth in the race in 1:09.76.

Hendrick rebounded from her second-place 50-free finish in claiming first in the 100 free. Hendrick's time of 59.56 easily outdistanced what turned out to be a three-way tie for the runner-up spot between Kansas' Aly Clover, Eckholt and Alwen. All three swimmers posted a time of 1:01.39. Irish freshman Mary Steffan was seventh in 1:05.25.

Junior Danielle Hulick swam into victory lane with a win in the 100 backstroke. Hulick won in a time of 1:07.06. Kansas' Whitney Sondall was second in 1:08.44, followed by Notre Dame's Jessica Roberts in 1:09.45. It was a great race for Roberts who has missed the better half of the past season and a half with assorted injuries.

Sophomore Kelli Barton won Notre Dame's sixth event of the day with a victory in the 400 freestyle. Barton's time of 4:29.12 was almost five seconds faster than Beth Schyer of Kansas (4:33.93). Notre Dame's Nicole Kohrt was third in 4:36.78, while sophomore Sara Cerreta and senior Katie Cavadini were fifth and sixth.

Musgrave then won her specialty – the 100 breaststroke – in 1:14.07. The Irish also claimed places four through six as sophomore Georgia Healey was fourth in 1:18.00, followed by freshmen Courtney Choura (1:18.87) and Annie Mantey (1:20.77).

The Irish concluded the meet by taking first, fourth and sixth in the 200 free relay. The winning time was 1:50.81.

The Notre Dame women are next in action Friday-Saturday, Jan. 17-18 against Big Ten foes Illinois and Michigan in Champaign, Ill. Meet times at 6 p.m. Friday evening and 10 a.m. Saturday.

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