March 20, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Sophomores Christina Bechtel and Christa Cabot are set to make their NCAA Championships debut as the lone Kentucky women’s representatives at the 2013 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.

Bechtel, a butterfly specialist, and Cabot, a diver, are the first UK women to earn NCAA berths since the 2010-11 season.

“Christina doesn’t swim until Friday, but she looks great in practice,” said Kentucky head coach Gary Conelly. “Christa leads off for us tomorrow on the boards. It’s always a special thrill to be here especially with it is the first time for both of our athletes. Both our girls are young and excited. The feeling is the sky is the limit and it should be fun.”

Action begins Thursday at 11 a.m. with Cabot competing first in the 1-meter springboard trials. Cabot earned her NCAA berth on the 3-meter springboard at the Zone C Diving Championships where she advanced to the finals with a fourth place, 12-dive qualifying score of 623.10. On the 1-meter board, Cabot finished in 17th place with a 12-dive score of 509.95.

The lone women’s swimmer earned her NCAA qualification at the Bulldog Last Chance Meet in Athens, Ga., as Bechtel tapped in with a time of 52.62 in the 100-butterfly on the first day of action at the event. The time was a career best and gave her second overall in school history in that race.

Bechtel’s 100-butterfly trials are slated for the third event of the day with Friday’s trials beginning at 11 a.m. Finals for Friday’s events begin at 7 p.m. with the 100-butterfly slated for the third event.

Cabot will also be competing Friday on the 3-meter springboard with platform scheduled for Saturday.

For more on Bechtel’s and Cabot’s performance at the 2013 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships check into UKathletics.com.