Oct. 3, 2008

Final Stats

Notre Dame, Ind. - -

Contact: Julie Farr DeLima

Notre Dame, Ind. - The 2008-09 Viking Swimming & Diving team opened its season on the road on Oct. 3 at the Dennis Stark Relays hosted by the University of Notre Dame. The women, who took only five swimmers to the meet, finished fifth of out six competing schools scoring 70 points.

"The women did really well," head coach Wally Morton said. "Freshman Carys Behn was terrific, but we got outstanding swims from everyone. Our swimmers were going back-to-back-to-back against fresh teams every race and they did a great job."

Behn posted the fifth best time in school history with her 500 freestyle split during the 1,000 freestyle relay she swam with senior Kristine Bunker. Behn swam her leg in 5:08.71 and the team finished fourth overall with a time of 10:35.04.

The Vikings also got significant performances from senior Kristina Nagy, who recorded a career-best time as the anchor of the 400 freestyle relay with her split of 55.94. The team of Behn, Bunker, freshman Whitney Hickey and Nagy finished fourth overall with a time of 3:44.92.

"Our effort was there," Morton said of his team's first meet of the season. "We were looking for great individual efforts and we got them. We competed well and reached those goals with great team camaraderie."

The Vikings return to action on Oct. 18 in their home opener against St. Francis University in the Busbey Natatorium.