The University of Minnesota placed sixth overall in the 800 free relay to close out the second day of the 2007 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the University Aquatic Center. The Golden Gophers established a school record of 7:07.92 and earned the Gophers 26 points for 14th place after two of the three championship days. With the finish the Gophers earned first-team All-America honors in the event.

Jenny Shaughnessy set her second school record of the championship when she led off the 800 free relay in a time of 1:46.06. She shattered her previous best of 1:47.79 and broke Dana Baum’s school record of 1:47.15, which was set in 2003. Following Shaughnessy’s record-breaking time, Yuen Kobayashi, Meredith McCarthy and Christine Jennings cruised to time of 7:07.92. The foursome broke their previous school-best time of 7:09.15 set at the 2006 Big Ten Championships. The Gophers, the reigning two-time Big Ten champions in the event, won the heat by nearly four seconds as Jennings held off Southern Methodist’s Celina Lemmen in the anchor leg. Minnesota finished ninth in the event last year with a time of 7:13.64.

Roxane Akradi earned All-America honors when she finished seventh in the 100-yard backstroke consolation final. Akradi held a time of 54.24 to place 15th overall. It was the first All-America honor of her career in an individual event. Akradi, who transferred from SMU prior to this season, earned three previous All-America citations with the Mustangs on their relay events.

Minnesota will have eight swimmers compete in three events for the final day of the championship. Competing in tomorrow’s 200 back prelims will be Roxane Akradi, Jenny Shaughnessy, Deidre DeWall. Erin Holtmeyer, Stacy Busack and Meredith McCarthy will compete in the 100 free, while Christine Jennings and Yuen Kobayashi participate in the 1,650 free. The Gophers will also compete in the 400 free relay to close out the championships.