February 20, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s swimmer Rachel Komisarz captured the thirdSEC title of her career on Saturday, winning the 1650 freestyle, and the UKwomen finished third at the Southeastern Conference championships at theLancaster Aquatic Center on the UK campus.

Komisarz, the SEC’s 1998 200 butterfly and 1999 500 freestyle champion, isthe first athlete in school history to claim conference crowns in threedifferent events. With her two first-place finishes and a runner-up effortduring the meet, Komisarz tied Georgia’s Kristy Kowal as the championship’shigh scorer.

The lady Cats’ third-place showing is the highest SEC finish in schoolhistory and source of pride for coach Gary Conelly.

“To finish third in the conference is huge,” Conelly said. “This is ahuge accomplishment for our team.”

The Cat diving squad gave the women a huge boost, as Christy Soulakis,Sarah Fields and Carrie Knoeber finished third, sixth and eighth,respectively, in platform competition.

UK also got support from Annabel Kosten, who placed fourth in the 100free, Carolyn Rader and Debra Hinsley, who took third and eighth,respectively, in the 200 fly, and Emily Grass, who claimed sixth in the 200breaststroke.

The UK men did not fare as well on the final day, however, slipping intoeighth place. Ben Fowler was the day’s top performer on the men’s side,finishing seventh in the 1650 freestyle.