The Collegian

Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Andrew Dodson Charger swim team's 200-yard medly relay takes off Wednesday afternoon when they placed 23rd. Charger track and field and swimming qualifiers are in Houston, Texas, this week for the NCAA Division II National Champinships. Track begins competiton Friday.

Media Credit: Andrew Dodson

The four swimmers of the 200-yard medley relay - freshman Linda Okonkowski, sophomore Alicia LeDuc, junior Meredith Scott and senior Anne Verhoef - made their national debut in Houston, Texas, last night for the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Along with the relay, Scott and Okonkowski swam the 200 IM event, and Verhoef made strides in the 50 free. Though no one qualified for finals, the team continues to soak in the competitive exposure.

"It's really exiting to be down here and competing with such fast and talented athletes," Okonkowski said. "We're having a great time. We're honored to be here, and we're looking forward to the rest of the week."

Head coach Kurt Kirner said the team is doing well, considering they're competing at a fast-pace level against a deep field of teams.

Today, Okonkowski said she'll swim another individual event and the team will compete in two more relays.

Kirner noted while one swimmer from each class qualifying for nationals provides a nice twist to the story, the true accomplishment is that the qualifying team was the medley relay, which happened to be the right mix of swimmers to clock in good times.

"We have a lot of talented people up and down the roster," Kirner said. "But since it was a relay, it's the best swimmer in each stroke."

In preparation for nationals, the Chargers increased yardage and practice levels stroking with the usual intensity.

"In the end, we can't control how good the other swimmers are, but we can stay within what we know," Kirner said. "I hope we make it a better season than it already has been."

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