McDowell, Hotchko Swim Well in First Day of NCAA Championships
Minneapolis, Minn. - Senior captain Brie McDowell (Doylestown, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) picked up her third career All-America citation as the 2009 NCAA Division III Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Championships kicked off Wednesday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
McDowell came in second in the consolation finals of the 200 individual medley event for a 10th-place overall finish. She posted a time of 2:05.88 in the finals after taking 13th in the prelims in 2:06.10. McDowell had entered the competition seeded fifth with her school record time of 2:05.48.
The 2007 and 2009 Capital Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer-of-the-Year, McDowell earned her first two All-America citations in 2007 as she finished ninth in both the 100 and 200 back. She currently holds 12 school records (8 individual, 4 relays).
The program's first-ever All-American, McDowell continues competition Friday with the 100 backstroke where she is seeded third (56.62). She will wrap up her Seahawk career on Saturday in the 200 backstroke where McDowell boasts Division III's top time at 2:00.92 to be seeded first in the event.
Junior Rachel Hotchko (Yakima, Wash./A.C. Davis), who is making her second consecutive trip to the NCAAs, also competed yesterday as Hotchko swam in the 50 freestyle event. She placed 56th in 25:02 in the prelims but did not advance to finals as only the top 16 advance.
Hotchko returns to the pool today in the 100 butterfly where she is seeded 19th with her school record time of 57.30. She will also compete on Saturday in the 100 freestyle. Hotchko currently holds six school records (2 individual, 4 relays).
This is the fourth consecutive season that the Seahawks have had a representative at the NCAA championships. The championships are being hosted by Macalester College at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center and will wrap up this Saturday. It is also the first-time ever that the men's and women's swimming championships are being held at the same time.
