Jan. 30, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Michelle Myers and Karie Haglund won one individual and relay events as the Penn State women's swimming and diving team took four of nine events during the first day of competition as the Nittany Lions edge Ohio State, 91-73, Friday. The men's swimming and diving team leads Northwestern, 103-60, while it trails Michigan (134-32) and Ohio State (127-40) after the first half of competition.
Katelyn O'Brien shattered a pool record in the 1000-yard freestyle event, topping the best time by more than two seconds. O'Brien took first with a time of 9:53.58, while Kailey Morris finished second at 10:00.69.
After teaming up with Kelly Nelson, Haglund and Lindsay DeForrest to place first in the 400 medley relay at 3:46.28, Myers led a quartet of Nittany Lion swimmers in the 50 freestyle. Myers won the event at 23:90, followed by Sam Palser (24.20), Katie Pulos (24.60) and Colby Capretto (24.85) who each finished ahead of the best Buckeye swimmer.
Haglund, the reigning Big Ten Swimmer of the Week, was fractions off of an NCAA `B' qualifying time in the 200 breaststroke, taking first at 2:15.95. Caitlin Meehan followed suite, finishing second at 2:17.34.
On the one-meter springboards, Courtney Adlam scored second with a dive of 263.15. Daphne Skelos touched the wall in second place in the 200 backstroke at 2:03.15. In the 200 freestyle, Kelly Nelson and Sarah Baker took second and third with times of 1:50.64 and 1:50.80, respectively.
For the men, Pat Schirk tabbed second in the 200 back, swimming in 1:47.13. Jason Goldner placed sixth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.73. Competition for both the dual and quad meets will continue tomorrow afternoon in Columbus.