Seven UH women qualify for NCAAs

Advertiser Staff

Seven University of Hawai'i swimmers have been invited to participate in the 2005 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in West Lafayette, Ind., March 17 to 19.

Melanie Schlanger, Dena Quick, Yan Chen, Mia Broden, Joy Symons, Cassie Hunt and Nicole Mackey earned the trip to the championships hosted by Purdue.

UH has three competing in the 50 freestyle, including Quick, who is ranked seventh (22.58 seconds), Schlanger (14th, 22.70) and Hunt (69th, 23.51).

In the 100 freestyle, the Rainbow Wahine placed four in the event. Schlanger is ranked 10th in the country with a time of 49.09 seconds. She is followed by Quick (58th, 50.56), Hunt (61st, 50.71) and Symons (70th, 51.10).

Schlanger and Hunt also are swimming in the 200 freestyle event ranked 26th (1:47.59) and 62nd (1:50.24), respectively.

Chen is swimming in the 200 individual medley (40th, 2:01.87), 400 IM (44th, 4:22.35) and 200 butterfly (30th, 1:59.94).

Broden made the cuts for the 100 (54.76) and 200 (2:00.45) butterfly events where she owns the nation's 41st and 35th best times.

Mackey is entered in the 100 (6th, 53.68) and 200 back (20th, 1:58.09), while also swimming in the 200 individual medley (9th, 1:58.09).

UH also will field teams in the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relay events. The 200 free relay team is ranked 12th (1:31.31), while the 400 free group is 15th (3:22.25).

UH could add as many as two more if QiongJie Huang and Rui Wang make the cuts this weekend at the Zone E Diving Regionals in Oklahoma City.

The UH men's team learns tomorrow which members will qualify for the nationals.