Top-Ranked RedHawk Women's Swimmers Face UC on Friday
1/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 14, 2010
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University women's swimming and diving team, ranked No. 1 on the College Swimming Coach's poll among Mid-Major schools, begins its hopeful journey to a second straight Mid-American Conference championship with a dual meet against rival University of Cincinnati.
The first women's event at the Nixon Aquatic Center starts Friday at 5 p.m.
Miami, 5-3 in dual meet action and winners of its own Invitational last December, also has the respect of Division I swimming as a whole, earning a vote in the Division I poll to rank among the nation's top 50.
The RedHawks are paced by junior breaststroke star Kelsey Vehr (Cincinnati) who has already recorded victories in 18 individual and relay races and six other runner-up finishes. Vehr is Miami's varsity record holder in three different events, including the 100 breast (1:00.48), the 200 breast (2:12.22) and the 400 individual medley (4:19.51). She also has swum on the varsity record holding 200 (1:39.96) and 400 medley relay teams (3:39.65).
Freshman butterfly and backstroke specialist Leah Thornton (Helena, AL) and freshman freestyler/butterflyer Bekka Westrick (Fairfield) have had sensational rookie performances thus far. Including individual and relay races, Thornton has 14 wins and 13 runner-up finishes while Westrick has recorded nine victories and 11 second-place efforts.
Senior swimmer Allison Way (Omaha, NE), a competitor in free style and butterfly events, has notched 10 victories and nine runner-up placings.
Senior Kasey Carpenter (Cincinnati), varsity record holder in the 200 backstroke (1:58.73), has been victorious in seven races this season.
Cincinnati's women's team is 2-4 in dual meet action and placed seventh among 10 schools at December's Miami Invitational.
"We are excited to get back into competition this Friday," said Head Coach Dave Jennings. "It will be a good chance to see where we are coming off of our training trip in Florida. Cincinnati has always been a good match-up for us at this time of the year."
Miami's men's team also competes against UC on Friday with its events beginning at 5 p.m. There is no admission charge.
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