University of Tennessee Athletics
Magnuson Posts Sixth Olympic Trial Qualifying Time of Summer
August 02, 2007 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Christine Magnuson
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. ??? The Tennessee Aquatics team took to the water on Tuesday for the first day of the 2007 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. This marks the third major meet for the team this summer having swam at the Nashville Summer Sizzler (June 22-24) and the Speedo Championship Series Southern Sectional (July 12-15).
Yesterday???s competition saw either past, present or future Lady Vols in all four events. For the second time this summer, rising senior Christine Magnuson posted an Olympic Trial qualifying in the 100m freestyle. The Tinley Park, Ill., native touched the wall in 55.86 in the prelims and 55.87 in the finals. She demolished the Olympic Trial time by 1.32 seconds en route to fifth place. Magnuson then joined Carly Mathes, Brittany Nauta and Brooke Boncher in the 400m freestyle race and placed 10th. Their time of 3:49.72 was a national qualifying cut.
To start things off on Wednesday, future Lady Vol Aleska Akerfelds placed 80th (5:11.07) in the 400m IM. Akerfelds hails from Bronxville High School in Bronxville, N.Y., where she was a five-time All-American going into her senior year. She also joined fellow Tennessee newcomer Tricia Weaner and former Lady Vol Jacque Fessel in the 200m backstroke. While Akerfelds was 95th (2:28.75), Fessel was 80th (2:22.57) and Weaner 68th (2:20.92). Weaner is competing for her hometown club, West Shore YMCA.
On Tuesday, 2007 UT grad Tiffany Clay was the only member of Tennessee Aquatics to compete as she took 38th in the 200m breast with a time of 2:36.38. Clay scored points for the Lady Vols at this year???s NCAA Championships in the 200y breast and as part of the 200y and 400y medley relay teams. She currently holds the school record in both the 100y (1:01.91) and 200y (2:11.87) breaststroke.
The national championship meet will continue through Saturday. Results and more information can be found on www.usaswimming.org. Live results are on www.omegatiming.com.
