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Day 2 - NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championships

Mar 21, 1997

INDIANAPOLIS - Day two at the Women's Swimming & Diving Championships saw more pool records and an NCAA record fall.

Auburn's 200 Medlay Relay team got the evening off to a fast start with a pool record. Stanford's Catherine Fox took out the race at a fast pace clocking a 24.92 for the first leg. Georgia's Kristy Kowal then pulled her team into the lead with a time of 27.47. On the third leg Mimi Bowen of Auburn pulled her team into contention with a 23.42 and teammate Katie Taylor secured the team win with a 22.06. ( Anne Wenglarski 25.57, Annemieke McReynolds 28.52, Mimi Bowen 23.42 , Katie Taylor 22.06 )

In the 400 Individual Medley Kristine Quance of Southern Cal won the race easily in a 4:06.54 a full 6 seconds ahead of second place finisher Lucy Findlay of Louisiana State 4:12.60. In third was Anne Kampfe of Michigan 4:12.81.
In an after race interview Kristine said "It's the race I wanted to win. It's the race at this meet that was the most important to me. It's always fun to win a race by that much." "I planned to lead from wire to wire and that's what I did. My teammate (Sarah Maggio) was in the race too and we were hoping for a one/two finish, but it just didn't happen tonight."

Mimi Bowen of Auburn picked up her second medal of the night with a win in the 100 butterfly in a time of 52.05. It was a tight race with Richelle Depold of North Carolina who was second in 52.61. Jessica Amey of Stanford was third in 53.31.
In an after race interview, when asked about winning Mimi said "I had a lot of adrenaline after the relay. My fly felt really good and underwater felt good, and I had a lot of confidence going into it. I knew Richelle was really fast, and she's a friend of mine so it wasn't like a rivalry, it was just competitive. I guess God gave me a competitive spirit for a reason." On winning a relay vs an individual event, "In a relay you get to enjoy it with three other people. Winning an individual event is great, but it's more fun to win with others."

Martina Moravcova of Southern Methodist set an NCAA and US Open record in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:43.08. Martina led the race by a full body length at the 50 and by two body lengths by the 150. Second was Lindsay Benko of Southern Cal 1:45.86. Third was Ashley Tappin of Arizona in 1:46.12.
In her after race interview Martina said, "It was a surprise, but my goal was to break the record. I did it and I'm very happy. I heard the crowd on the last 50 so I tried to pick it up. I can still improve the third 50." When asked about breaking the record she said, "I felt more confident to take it because I was rested. I am happy to break a record of one of swimming's greatest stars (Nicole Haislett)."

Gretchen Hegener of Minnesota won the 100 Breaststroke in a pool record time of 1:00.32 just 6/100 ahead of second place finisher Kristy Kowal of Georgia 1:00.38. In a very tight race Kowal led after the first 50 by a mere 4/100 . Hegener managed to pull ahead on the second half of the race to win. In third place was Lindsay Etter of UCLA in a time of 1:00.77.

Catherine Fox of Stanford won the 100 Backstroke in a time of 53.23. She led the race from start to finish. In a close second was Marilyn Chiang of California in 53.29. In third was Lia Obestar of Southern Methodist with a time of 53.43.

Southern Methodist Lady Mustang's picked up their their second relay gold medal with a win in the 800 Freestyle relay with a time of 7:09.92. ( Lia Oberstar 1:48.57, Katie McClelland 1:48.34, Katherine Inskeep 1:48.89, Martina Moravcova, 1:44.12 ) Arizona was second in a time of 7:12.74 and Stanford was third in 7:13.83.