University of Tennessee Athletics
Jenny Connolly Named Lady Vol Athlete Of The Week
February 23, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 23, 2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - After breaking four Lady Vol records at the 2009 Southeastern Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, Tennessee freshman Jenny Connolly has been named the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week.
Connolly set individual UT records in the 100y back (51.34) and 200y back (1:54.51) and was a member of the school-record-setting 200y medley (1:38.04) and 400y medley (3:34.90) relays as UT finished fourth at the conference meet held at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center.
Connolly's time in the 100y back earned her a runner-up finish and is an NCAA `A' cut. Her 100y back performance makes her the third-fastest performer in NCAA history in the event.
In addition to her second-place finish in the 100y back, the West Lafayette, Ind., native placed sixth in the 100y fly (52.83), 10th in the 200y back and swam a leg on the 200y and 400y medley relays and the 200y and 400y free relays that each finished fourth.
Every race Connolly competed in earned at least an NCAA `B' cut including her 50y free lead off split (22.74) on the 200y free relay.
The old Lady Vol record in the 100y back was 53.67 and set by Jacque Fessel in 2006. Fessel also held the old 200y back record of 1:55.53 set in 2004. The previous 200y medley relay record (1:38.09) was set at the 2008 SEC Championships, while the old 400y medley relay record (3:38.11) was set at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
Connolly is the third UT swimmer to earn the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week honor this season. She joins juniors Michele King and Jamie Saffer, who won the award on Jan. 12 and Jan. 26, respectively.
Connolly has automatically qualified for the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in the 100y back. The meet is hosted by Texas A&M and will take place from March 19-21 in College Station.
She also has a good shot to qualify to the national meet in the 100y fly and 200y back, where she currently ranks in the top 25 on the national list in both events, as well as on UT's relays.
Connolly and the Lady Vols will be back in action this Saturday and Sunday as Tennessee hosts the 2009 Championships Qualifications Meet, a last chance meet for swimmers trying to lower their top times to earn NCAA Championships invites.
