The No. 21 University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team finished the first day of the three-day Georgia Invitational in third place. The Golden Gophers hold 266 points, while No. 4 California has 315 and host Georgia with 293 in Athens, Ga. Yuen Kobayashi chipped in her best time of the season when she automatically qualified for the 2007 NCAA Championships in March with a 500 free, third-place time of 4:44.61.
Previous to tonight, Kobayashi’s season-best time was 4:50.48. Christine Jennings added a season-best time of 4:47.50, provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Jenny Shaughnessy led the Maroon and Gold in the 200 individual medley when she placed second overall, the team's best finish of the night. Shaughnessy clocked a season-best time of 2:00.90. Shaughnessy nearly won the event with her time, but Cal’s Jessica Hardy won the event in 2:00.71. Deidre DeWall added a 10th-place finish with a time of 2:04.49, while Danielle Ridder won the C Final in 2:05.22.
The Gophers had two qualify in the 50 free A Final in Stacy Busack and Jennifer Hasling. Busack placed third with a season-best time and provisional qualifying time of 23.16. Hasling touched the wall in 23.56, good enough for a seventh-place showing.
In relay action, Minnesota finished third in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Busack, Hasling, Erin Holtmeyer and Roxane Akradi combined for a provisional qualifying time of 1:33.09.
The Gophers closed the night in the 400 medley relay where they finished fifth. The Gopher relay of Akradi, Kim Kazika, Shaughnessy and Meredith McCarthy combined for a time of 3:46.19.
In diving action, Erica Schiffler led the Gophers in the 3-meter event. Schiffler added 14 points when she held a score of 263.85 and a third-place finish. Alexandra Barstad placed fifth overall with a score of 248.05, while Jacqueline Schroeder finished sixth with a score of 242.30.
Action continues with preliminary heats tomorrow at 9 a.m., followed by finals at 6 p.m. (EST).
