Liberal Arts Championships

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, February 16. LUTHER was crowned the Liberal Arts Championships champion for the third year in a row and sixth time in school history. All six titles have come in the past 11 years. Started in 1983, this year marked the 27th year of the Liberal Arts Championships. Coe College hosted the three-day meet that took place Feb. 12-14.

Luther entered the final day of competition with a comfortable lead and continued to swim well in the final events. The Norse recorded 268 points today, setting two school records and two B-cut qualifying marks for the NCAA Division III National Swimming Championships. Luther posted a team total of 785 points finishing 251 points ahead of runner-up Lindenwood University. Loras College was third with 422.

Erin Mykleby broke her own school record in the 200 backstroke, finishing second with a time of 2:10.81. Earlier this year she had set the old mark at 2:11.95 on Nov. 15, 2008.

Stephanie Drewes also broke her own school record in the 200 breaststroke. Drewes finished second with a time of 2:29.12, nearly two seconds faster than her old record of 2:31.78, established on Jan. 24 of this year.

Rachel Bruns captured her second Liberal Arts title thanks to a first place finish in the 100 freestyle. Bruns finished ahead of teammate Addison Choi with a time of 52.65. This time is also a B-cut qualifying mark, the second of the meet for Bruns. Choi was clocked at 53.59.

The 400 freestyle relay team of Mykleby, Choi, Amy Schneider and Bruns wrapped up the three days of competition with a first place finish. This foursome posted a B-cut qualifying time of 3:33.49.

Luther won its fifth consecutive Liberal Arts Championships title this evening in Cedar Rapids. Coe College hosted the three-day meet that was held Feb. 12-14.

The Norse posted a team total of 835.5 points, finishing ahead of runner-up Lindenwood University with 709. Illinois Tech was third with 664.5. The victory also marked the seventh time the Norse have captured the Liberal Arts Championships title, all coming in the past decade.

During today's competition, Luther posted three B-cut qualifying marks and also broke two school records in the process.

Spencer Robbins broke his own school record in the 200 butterfly. Robbins finished second in this event with a time of 1:53.13, breaking the old mark of 1:53.40 set Feb. 23, 2008. This time was also a B-cut qualifying mark.

Michael Pettengill stood atop the Liberal Arts Championships podium for the second time, capturing the title of the 200 breaststroke. Pettengill was clocked at 2:07.20 that is also a B-cut qualifying time.

Luther wrapped up the 2009 championships with an impressive run in the 400 freestyle relay. The Norse finished second in this event, posting a time of 3:05.75, shattering the old school record of 3:07.72 established at last year's NCAA III National Championships. This time was also a B-cut qualifying mark. This foursome included Taylor Nelson, Robbins, Spencer Stephens and Cameron Webb.

Special thanks to Luther for contributing this report.

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