Ithaca Captures Eighth Consecutive Empire 8 Women's Swimming and Diving Title
February 18, 2007
Ithaca College won its eighth consecutive Empire 8 title in women's swimming and diving, finishing 49 points ahead of runner-up Nazareth College.
The Bombers, who won four of five relay events, had five swimmers finish first in a total of seven events. Sophomore Lauren Botterbusch won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:06.32 and the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:25.34. First-year swimmer Shannon Archer placed first in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:15.09 and the 1,650-yard freestyle in 18:03.84. Other individual winners for the Bombers were rookie Jen Heberton (50-yard freestyle in 24.76 seconds), senior Nikki Gundersen (200-yard freestyle in 1:56.15), and junior Kelly Turpin (100-yard backstroke in 1:00.84).
Junior Emily Lesher of Nazareth won three events, including breaking her own state and conference records in the 200-yard backstroke in 2:06.39. She provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in that event and the 200-yard individual medley, which she won in 2:07.38. Lesher automatically qualified for the national meet by winning the 400-yard IM in 4:31.67. Rookie Lauren McKinney captured the 200-yard butterfly in 2:14.12. The Golden Flyers won the 800-yard freestyle relay.
Sophomore Ashley Brinkman of third-place Hartwick College won the one-meter diving event with a conference championship record of 366.35 points. Senior Erin Collins of Alfred College won the three-meter board with a score of 378.70.
First-year swimmer Caitlyn Burr of Rochester Institute of Technology captured the 100-yard butterfly in 58.71 seconds. Sophomore Kristen Curtze won the 100-yard freestyle in 53.26 seconds.
Final Team Scores
Ithaca 842.0
Nazareth 793.0
Hartwick 577.5
RIT 460.5
Alfred 280.0
Utica 176.0