Nov. 21, 2001

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky swimmers Joey Faltraco and Roger Watkins both have clocked times that rank No. 1 in the nation as the College Swimming Coaches Association released the Speedo/CSCAA College Best Times on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Watkins, a junior co-captain, ranks first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 54.85, .01 seconds behind the UK record which he set last season. The Pearl River, La., native also owns the second-fastest time in the nation in the 200 breaststroke (1:59.86), just .24 seconds behind the best time.

Faltraco, a sophomore who has been setting the UK record books ablaze, is on the Best Times list in four different events: first in the 200 backstroke (1:45.68), seventh in the 400 IM (3:54.10), 15th in the 100 backstroke (50.13) and 24th in the 500 freestyle (4:32.12). All but the 500 freestyle times are UK records which were set during the Nike Cup last weekend.

Other men on the Best Times list are junior Eddie Clement (1:49.14) and freshman Daniel Cruz (1:50.00), both in the 200 butterfly.

For the women, seven different individuals are among the nation’s fastest, with sophomore Shawna Sechrist showing up on two lists. The Satltsburg, Pa., native ranks seventh in the 200 backstroke (2:00.36) and 21st in the 100 backstroke (56.47).

UK has three individuals on the 500 freestyle list with freshman Chrissy Miller’s 4:49.84 during the Nike Cup preliminaries ranking fifth in the country. Senior Carolyn Rader (4:50.35) ranks sixth while freshman Marci Vrooman (4:53.77) is 22nd.

In the 1,650 freestyle, freshman Caitlin Muldoon ranks 23rd (17:06.58) while classmate Jessica Siegele’s time in the 100 backstroke (56.56) also is 23rd.

The UK men’s relay squads also are ranked among the nations’ fastest, ranking in the top 25 in every relay, topping out at eighth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:22.70) and the 800 freestyle relay (6:48.46).

The UK women’s relay squads have recorded the nation’s second best time in the 800 freestyle relay (7:25.78) while also ranking among the nation’s best in the 400 freestyle and 400 medley relays.

The swimming teams have completed their fall schedule and will resume competition Jan. 19 when Arkansas and South Carolina visit the Cats.

-UK-