TCU Swims Past Northern Arizona, 145-115

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona, January 8. SOPHOMORE Cheryl Townsend won three events on Monday night to propel the TCU women's swim team past Northern Arizona, 145-115. The win improved TCU's record to 9-3, 2-3, while dropping Northern Arizona to 5-5.

Townsend, a native of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, grabbed her first win of the night in the 100-back (1:06.33), while fellow Frogs Lori Birkhead and Rikki Covey followed in second and third place, respectively. TCU swept the medal positions once again as Townsend took the top spot in the 200-back with a time of 2:21.06, followed by Rikki Covey and Lori Birkhead. Townsend notched her third win of the meet in the 200-IM with a time of 2:24.47.

"Cheryl (Townsend) had an incredible meet tonight," said TCU head coach Richard Sybesma. "She's a very good all around swimmer."

Townsend was not the only swimmer with an impressive performance, as junior Maribeth Pottenger swept the breaststroke events, including setting a new pool record. Pottenger claimed her first win of the meet in the 100-breast, completing the event in a time of 1:14.57. In the 200-breast, the San Antonio, Texas, native took the top spot in a blistering time of 2:40.62, breaking the old pool record of 2:42.74, set by Tennille Taylor of Arizona State on Jan. 30, 2000.

Erica Tate, a senior from Grapevine, Texas, continued her dominance in the 50-free, grabbing the win in a time of 26.98. The victory extended Tate's undefeated 50-free dual meet record to 7-0.

Freshman Stephanie Futscher also got in the win column for the Frogs, swimming the 200-fly in a time of 2:25.34.

In relay action, the Frogs kicked off the meet placing first and second in the 400-medley relay. The winning team consisted of Lori Birkhead, Maribeth Pottenger, Natalie Melenric and Tara Sullivan, who completed the event in a time of 4:26.13.

"I'm extremely pleased with the win tonight and especially happy with our training and the way we swam at altitude," said Sybesma.

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