Marshall University Athletics
Herd Prepares for Conference USA Championships
2/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 20, 2006
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HOUSTON - After spending its first three seasons in the Mid-American Conference, the Marshall Thundering Herd will participate in its first Conference USA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships beginning Wednesday.
The University of Houston, which finished 20th last season at the NCAA Championships, will host the four-day event at the UH Natatorium.
Last season, Tulane won the Conference USA championship, recording a score of 729.00, followed by current Mountain West Conference member 719.50. Current C-USA members East Carolina (542.50) and Houston (441), finished third and fifth, respectively.
At the 2005 Mid-American Conference Championships at Athens, Ohio, the Herd finished seventh overall with a final score of 298. Erika Nilsson and Milla Kuurto (Lohja, Finland/Lohja) earned All-MAC First Team honors. Nilsson won the 500-yard freestyle, while Kuurto won both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events.
"The Conference USA championship is what we work for all year," Marshall head coach Leonard Kraus said. "It's our focus in every workout.
"This will be an amazing meet with tremendous competition. SMU has been ranked in the top 10 all year long. Houston, East Carolina, Tulane and Rice are all very strong."
Marshall finished its first season of competition in Conference USA with a 6-8 record. However, the Herd faced only one C-USA opponent during the season, due to the conference's format. In November, Marshall lost 173-114 at East Carolina.
That meet saw sophomore Emily Edmonson (Chattanooga, Tenn./Girls Prep) swim a career-best time of 24.56 in the 50-yard freestyle, while Kuurto added victories in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard IM.
"It's a new conference, a new venue and a new city that will make for unique and wonderful possibilities at these championships. We want to make the most of everything we do this week. If we do that, then we will be successful. Every second of hard work will be worth it."
Updated results will be available at www.ConferenceUSA.com.
2006 Conference USA Swimming & Diving Championships Schedule of Events
Wednesday, February 223 p.m. - Preliminaries: 1-Meter Diving (Men)6 p.m. - Finals: 200-yard Medley Relay, 1-Meter Diving (Men), 800-yard Freestyle Relay
Thursday, February 2310 a.m. - Preliminaries: 500-yard Freestyle, 200-yard Individual Medley, 50-yard Freestyle1 p.m. - Preliminaries: 3-Meter Diving (Women)6 p.m. - Finals: 500-yard freestyle, Awards Break. 200-yard Individual Medley, 50-yard Freestyle, Awards Break, 3-Meter Diving (Women), 400-yard Medley Relay
Friday, February 2410 a.m. - Preliminaries: 400-yard Individual Medley, 100-yard Butterfly, 200-yard Freestyle, 100-yard Breaststroke, 100-yard Backstroke1 p.m. - Preliminaries: 1-Meter Diving (Women), 3-Meter Diving (Men)6 p.m. - Finals: 200-yard Freestyle Relay, 1-Meter Diving (Women), Awards Break, 400-yard Individual Medley, 100-yard Butterfly, 3-Meter Diving (Men), Awards Break, 200-yard Freestyle, 100-yard Breaststroke, 100-yard Backstroke
Saturday, February 2510 a.m. - Preliminaries: 200-yard Backstroke, 100-yard Freestyle, 200-yard Breaststroke, 200-yard Butterfly, 1650-yard Freestyle1 p.m. - Preliminaries: Platform Diving (Men and Women)6 p.m. - Finals: 1650-yard Freestyle, Platform Diving (Women), Awards Break, 200-yard Backstroke, 100-yard Freestyle, Awards Break, 200-yard Breaststroke, 200-yard Butterfly, Platform Diving (Men), 400-yard Freestyle Relay
