Groome earns National Swimmer of the Week honors

02/17/2010 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving

Feb. 17, 2010

By Dana Ingraham
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois freshman swimmer Kirsten Groome has been named the Counsilman Hunsaker Division I National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com for her efforts at the 2010 State Farm/Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

Groome captured three first-place finishes at last weekend's championships, setting multiple records along the way. She posted two NCAA B standard times in the 500 free (4:44.48) and the 1650 free (16:15.49), that could potentially qualify her to participate in the National Championships March 18-20 at Purdue University.

Those times also stand as new MVC records and pool records at SIU's home pool, Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium.

In addition, the Shreveport, La. native won the 400 IM at 4:19.84, and was part of the first-place 800 free relay team, breaking two more Valley records.

The Salukis finished third at the MVC Championships with a total of 680 points.