University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Big East Championships Preview: Women's Breaststroke
2/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Big East Championships Preview: Women's Breaststroke
2/17/2003
PITTSBURGH ? The women's swimming and diving team finished fifth at the Big East Championships in 2002 after two consecutive sixth-place finishes and will be looking to improve once again when this year's meet begins on Thursday.
Women's Breaststroke
Last year's Big East champion in the 100 breaststroke, Pittsburgh junior Ryan Redman (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) in hopes of repeating her efforts, but will have to fight off sophomore teammate Cynthia Snyder (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional). Redman is currently the top-ranked swimmer in 2002-03 with a time of 1:03.51, an NCAA B-cut, against Notre Dame on Dec. 7. Right behind her is Snyder with a time of 1:04.34 at the 2002 Pittsburgh Invitational.
Also near the top of the rankings and considered favorites for an All-Big East performance are Virginia Tech's Jen Brielmaier (1:04.58), Rutgers' Katie Kuczmarksi (1:04.62), and Notre Dame's Laurie Musgrave (1:05.01).
Three other Panthers qualified for the 100 breast: junior Sarah Grant (Simi Valley, Calif./Seneca Valley) (19th, 1:06.68), freshman Rebecca Mrljak (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) (26th, 1:07.74), and senior Julia Carolan (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville), who qualified at the Penn State meet on Feb. 7 with a time of 1:07.96.
The Panthers will have a tougher time coming up with a winner in the 200 breaststroke, with their top-ranked swimmer in the event at eighth place. Snyder's time of 2:21.66 against Virginia on Feb. 1 is the team's top time in the 200 breast so far this season but four other Pittsburgh swimmers qualified for the Big East, including Redman, Grant, Mrljak, and junior Carolyne Savini (Egg Harbour Twp., N.J./Holy Spirit).
Villanova's Maddy Crippen has the top time in the conference this year, a 2:18.74 she swam at the Princeton Invitational in December. Brielmaier and Kelly Burke of the Hokies are second and third, respectively, with qualifying times of 2:18.86 and 2:19.24.
Tomorrow's Preview: Butterfly
