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March 19, 2008
COLUMBUS, OH - ACC Most Valuable Swimmer Michelle Parkhurst and teammates Rachel Regone, Lauren Sindall, and Alexandra Allen will travel to Ohio State for the Women's 2008 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Head Coach Chris Ip leads his group into McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, making their fourth appearance in the past five seasons and sixteenth overall.
The four ACC Champions qualified for the NCAA meet after swimming a Conference, Pool, and ACC Meet records and NCAA automatic qualifying time of 1:30.60 in the 200 free relay. At the NCAA meet, Regone will lead off, followed by Sindall and Allen, and anchored by Parkhurst. The group is responsible for shattering the ACC record last month during the ACC championships, successfully defending their title.
In addition, Parkhurst, the ACC champion in the 100 back, 200 back, and 200 free, will compete in those three individual events at the meet. Her times in the 200 free and 200 back were both ACC records. Her record in the 200 free (1:44.74) is currently third in the nation and she will start as a favorite for the event. She holds the 11th fastest time in the nation in both the 100 and 200 back for the year as well, putting her in a solid position to score for Clemson.
Regone, ACC Silver Medalist in the 50 free, will compete in both the 50 free and 100 free in addition to the relay. Her time in the 50 free, a 22.54 was among the fastest in the nation, and she will compete among the nation's elite. Sindall will also compete in the 50 free and 100 free after putting in NCAA-B times of 23.14 and 50.73, respectively.
The top eight finishers are named All-Americans, while 9th through 16th are Honorable Mention All-Americans. Kim Routh was the last All-American for Clemson when she was a top-eight finisher in the 1650 free.
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Record Watch:
Parkhurst could make a run at the NCAA record in the 200 free, held by former Cal swimmer Natalie Coughlin, now an Olympian. She holds the NCAA and American records at 1:42.65 and 1:41.65, respectively.
Look for Regone to make a push at the ACC record in the 50 free (22.40) during this meet afte rposting a 22.54 during the ACC Championships. Virginia Tech's Sara Smith will also be looking for this distinction.
The Tigers already hold all of the ACC records in the 200 free relay, but the NCAA and American Record is 1:27.23, set by Arizona last year.
