Yuen Kobayashi led the University of Minnesota women's swimming and diving team during the first day of the 2009 NCAA Championships, today, in College Station, Texas. Kobayashi earned first-team All-America honors in the 500 free, while two of the Gopher relays and Jenny Shaughnessy competed in the consolation finals for 35 points after day one of the three-day meet.

Kobayashi held a time of 4:38.91 in the prelims for a career-best time. She followed with a sixth-place finish in 4:39.82 for first-team All-America honors. It was the highest finish by the senior in her four-year career. The last time she competed in the finals was her sophomore year and placed 12th overall.

The Gopher 200 free relay and 400 medley relay each competed in the consolation final. In the 200 free relay, the relay of Stacy Busack, Meredith McCarthy, Kaylee Jamison and Alison Eggers added a finals time of 1:29.31 to finish 11th overall and earned 11 points. The Gophers' 400 medley relay placed 13th overall in the country. The foursome of Castina Wabeke, Jillian Tyler, Megan Braun and Stacy Busack combined for a time of 3:33.61.

Jenny Shaughnessy collected three points when she finished 14th overall in the 200 individual medley. Shaughnessy held a consolation final time of 1:57.51 to place 14th overall. 

Action continues tomorrow with the prelims beginning at 11 a.m., followed by the finals at 7 p.m.