March 19, 2009

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – On the first day of the 2009 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships the Kentucky 400-medley relay scored an 18th place finish in the event overall, while two of UK’s athletes were among the field in the 50-freestyle.

UK’s medley relay tapped in a time of 3:38.73, just a shade behind their school record time of 3:37.52 they set at the SEC Championships earlier this season. Sophomore Chatham Penrod opened the race in the backstroke leg, with sophomore Lindsey Graessle taking the breaststroke leg followed by junior Megan Pulskamp on the butterfly leg and freshman Kelsi Hall taking the final freestyle leg.

Pulskamp and Hall also took part in the individual 50-free heats. Pulskamp, swimming the event at the NCAA Championships for the first time in her career, clocked in a time of 22.80 good for 49th place.

In her first career NCAA Championships, Hall placed 60th overall with a time of 23.13 in the event.

Kentucky returns to the pool tomorrow for the second day of the national meet. Friday’s events include the 200-medley relay, which UK will take part in. Pulskamp will return to action in the 100-fly and Graessle (100-breast) and Penrod (100-back) will also be in action individually.

Complete coverage of the Kentucky women’s swimming and diving team at the NCAA Championships can be found by visiting UKathletics.com. For complete information regarding the national meet please visit www.aggieathletics.com/ncaa2009/swimming/women/