Jan. 19, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two University of Kentucky women’s swimmers earned Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Week distinctions after helping the Wildcats come back to defeat Alabama 150-148 on Saturday. Junior Chatham Penrod claimed SEC Swimmer of the Week honors, while freshman Trina Winsor was the league’s top freshman this week.
Penrod was the lone Wildcat to claim two individual victories for the Blue and White in their first meet of the 2010 portion of the schedule. Penrod eclipsed the field in both backstroke events to lead the Wildcats. She touched the wall in a time of 55.81 in the 100-back and in a time of 2:01.66 in the 200-back. Penrod also earned first-place honors as a member of the winning 200-medley relay to open the meet. She took the backstroke leg as the quartet touched the wall in a time of 1:42.89 in the event.
Winsor has emerged as UK’s top threat in the distance events and she aided the UK cause this weekend with a first-place finish in the 500-freestyle and a second-place tap in the 1000-freestyle. Winsor claimed first in the 500-free with a time of 4:56.38. She clocked in a time of 10:08.25 in the 1000-free. The first-year athlete also was instrumental in helping UK mount a comeback in the final event of the meet to win the dual with the Tide. UK trailed heading into the final 400-free relay race, and the Blue and White took the first two spots to edge out the homestanding Crimson Tide. Winsor was the third leg in the second-place finisher as UK’s “B” relay edged out Alabama’s top swimmers to earn the victory.
Both honors for UK’s two ladies are the first of their careers. Kentucky has now garnered four athlete of the week honors this season, as senior Eric McGinnis and junior Tyler Reed have both earned athlete of the week distinctions earlier in the season. Penrod becomes the first UK woman to win a weekly honor since Jenny Bradford in 2007. Winsor is UK’s first female Freshman of the Week, as two male athletes have previously won the honor.
Kentucky returns to action on Sat. Jan, 23rd when they travel to intrastate rival Louisville. The meet is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET. For the most up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky swimming and diving squads please visit UKathletics.com.
