Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Swimming and Diving Prepares for MAC Championships
2/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Marshall Swimming and Diving Prepares for MAC Championships
2/25/2004
Kuurto holds top MAC times in the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly and the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle. |
OXFORD, Ohio - The Marshall University women's swimming and diving team travels to Oxford, Ohio, to compete in the Mid-American Conference Championships. The meet is set to begin Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. and run through Saturday evening in the Nixon Aquatic Center.
Sophomore Milla Kuurto (Lohja, Finland) is expected to lead the way for the Herd. Going into championship weekend, Kuurto holds the fastest times in the conference in four events: the 200-yard butterfly (2:01.93), the 100-yard freestyle (51.53), the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.92) and the 100-yard buterfly (54.54). Her time in the 100-yard butterfly set a new MAC record and placed her at 15th in the nation in the event.
"Today I could tell the girls were really starting to feel that the championships start tomorrow," said Marshall University Head Coach Leonard Kraus, "it's always a good feeling when you can tell that they're ready."
Erika Nilsson (Jr., Haninge, Sweden) is currently fifth in the MAC in the 500-yard freestyle (5:01.52) and could have an impressive weekend in all distance events.
"We could have a strong showing on the first day with Erika [Nilsson] in the 500 free and Cara [Davison] and [Emily] Edmonson in the 50-yard free," said Kraus, "as we continue through each session we're just going to try to get stronger and faster."
Marshall went 7-9 overall in its second season of competition and 1-7 in the MAC. The first MAC victory for the team came on November 1, 2003, when it defeated Eastern Michigan University, 159-141.
