Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Groome to compete at NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
03/04/2010 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
March 4, 2010
By Dana Ingraham
www.SIUSalukis.com
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Southern Illinois freshman distance swimmer Kirsten Groome has qualified for the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships March 18-20 at Purdue University.
The first-year Saluki will compete in the 1650 and the 500 freestyle.
"Kirsten has crossed the first big hurdle by qualifying for the championships," said SIU head coach Rick Walker. "We are anticipating very good swims from her as she has performed extremely well all year. Kirsten is very much at home in a competition like this."
The 500 freestyle preliminary will be held Thursday, March 18, with the morning competition beginning at 11 a.m., and the finals taking place at 7 p.m. The 1650 freestyle will be held on Saturday, March 20.
Groome is the first female swimmer to qualify for nationals in 21 years for Southern Illinois, since Tonia Mahaira qualified for the NCAA championships during the 1989-90 season.
Making the trip to compete on the national level adds to an already highly decorated freshman campaign for Groome, who recorded both of her NCAA qualifying times at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships just a few weeks ago. She broke two SIU pool records as well as three MVC and SIU school records over the course of the conference championships.
Groome was named MVC Swimmer of the Week four times throughout the season, and was eventually named MVC Swimmer of the Year. Most recently, she earned Counsilman Hunsaker Division I National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week honors from CollegeSwimming.com.
Players Mentioned
