Freshman Nikki White made a statement nationally with a time of 4:36.61 in the 500 freestyle. |
White Smashes Record on Day One of Hoosierland Invite
Nov. 21, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freshman Nikki White made a national statement with a school record in the 500 freestyle, highlighting day one of the Hoosierland Invite at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
The meet continues tomorrow and runs through Sunday. Participating swim teams include Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Truman State.
White blew away the field in the 500 freestyle with a school, Big Ten and pool record of 4:36.61. That is nearly seven seconds better than the previous school mark of 4:43.33 set by Amanda Smith last year and automatically qualifies White for the NCAA Championships in March. Smith was second in the event Friday night with a time of 4:47.42, an NCAA B time. Rounding out the top five were Margaux Farrell in third (4:50.10) and Kate Zubkova fourth (4:50.26).
"That was an explosive performance," said head coach Ray Looze. "This is just the beginning of what she can do. She got a taste of what she is capable of and it shows what can happen here at Indiana.
"This is the breakthrough she has been waiting for, so now it is time to re-evaluate and reset the goals she has for this season."
White's time ranks her seventh all-time among American swimmers and would have placed her second at last year's NCAA Championship. In all, eight of the top-10 finishers in the 500 freestyle wore Indiana caps.
Kate Zubkova hit the NCAA B time in the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.34, finishing first in the bonus heat. In the championship heat Donna Smailis was fourth (2:04.35), while Allison Kay and Ashley Jones tied for fifth (2:04.76). Sarah Stockwell's time of 2:02.84 in the bonus heat was a personal best and the fourth-fastest overall.
|
|
 |
Margaux Farrell had the fastest time of the night for the Hoosiers in the 50 free, finishing sixth in the championship heat with a time of 23.68. Stockwell won the bonus heat in 23.85, with Abby Cooper sixth (24.63). Smailis was fifth in the consolation heat, touching the wall in 24.07.
The finals session opened with the 200 free relay as Farrell, Smailis, Zubkova and Kay placed third with a time of 1:34.80. Indiana's B squad of Courey Schaefer, Cooper, Brittany Strumbel and Stockwell was sixth in the heat (1:37.68).
Indiana concluded day one with a victory in the 400-yard medley relay as Zubkova, Stockwell, Smailis and Farrell combined for a time of 3:43.27. IU's B team of Kristin Cihoski, Cooper, Brittany Barwegen and Strumbel placed fourth (3:53.26).
"We were pretty dominant out there today, and that is without being rested," Looze said. "Right now we are just trying to figure out where we are at. I would love to see our speed come along, but this team is really just a jack-of-all trades. We are very versatile, we just have to figure out where to fit in all the pieces."
