Banner Day for A&M Women's Swimming Program
Jul 08, 2009 | Women's Swimming and Diving
July 8, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - It was great evening in three different countries for the Texas A&M women's swimming program on Wednesday.
At the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, Aggie senior Kristen Heiss (Casper, Wyo.) grabbed a gold medal to go with her Monday silver after anchoring the United States to victory in the 800-meter freestyle relay. Heiss anchored her 200 freestyle split in 1:59.44 as the Americans hit the wall first in 8:00.49. Canada took silver in 8:03.67 while Italy was third at 8:06.14. Heiss was joined by Georgia's Morgan Scroggy, Auburn's Ava Ohlgren, and Georgia's Chelsea Nauta on the winning American squad.
"There is nothing better for an athlete than to be able to represent the United States and what's more, to do so on a relay," Heiss said. "To be able to stand behind the blocks with my three other teammates and hear 'USA USA USA' was an amazing feeling."
In Indianapolis, Ind., the Texas A&M 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay team of Melissa Hain (Kingwood), Sarah Woods (Birmingham, Ala.) grabbed the gold medal at the U.S. World Championship trials in 3:49.29. De Anza Cupertin Aquatics was second in 3:49.68 while the University of Louisville was third in 3:50.68.
In Montreal, Canada, senior Julia Wilkinson (Stratford, Ontario) earned her second consecutive berth to the Canadian world championship team thanks to a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle. Wilkinson qualified fourth for finals in the event after posting a time of 2:00.30 then improved it to 1:59.41 during the championship final. With the fourth-place finish, Wilkinson earns a spot on the Canadian 800-meter freestyle relay team in Rome, Italy, later this month. Wilkinson also earned a third-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke in 1:02.13 after qualifying fifth in 1:03.60 during prelims.
Wilkinson was joined in the Canadian 100 back final by incoming A&M freshman Tess Simpson (Cornwall, Ontario). Simpson placed sixth in 1:03.73 after recording a time of 1:03.75 during morning prelims. Another A&M signee, Kendra Chernoff (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), placed fourth in the 200-meter butterfly final in 2:12.26 after going 2:12.34 in prelims.
Back in the U.S., former Aggie swimmer Christine Marshall (Newport News, Va.) finished ninth in preliminaries of the 200-meter freestyle in 1:59.57. Results from the consolation final were not available at the time of this writing. Hannah Kinder, the leadoff leg of the winning 4 x 100 relay, placed 58th in 2:04.32.
Three other current team members participated in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. world trials. Ella Doerge (Cliva, Iowa), 50th, 1:04.54.
On Tuesday in Indianapolis, Melissa Hain also placed 34th in the 200 IM (2:18.84). In the 100 fly, Christine Marshall grabbed 34th place in 1:01.32 while freshman Rita Medrano (Aguascalientes, Mexico) was 46th in 1:02.24.
On Tuesday in Serbia, sophomore Melanie Dodds (Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada) finished 12th overall in the 200 IM in 2:17.90 after going 2:17.56 in prelims.
All three meets will continue through Saturday.
