Feb. 26, 2009

Swimming & Diving: Arnold Places Seventh, Rupe Ninth at HL Championships
    Brown Deer, Wis. – Senior Olivia Arnold continued her strong performance at the Horizon League Championships finishing a career-best seventh place in the 500 freestyle on Thursday night at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center.
    Arnold, who finished fifth in the 1,000-yard free on Wednesday, placed seventh in the 500 with a time of 5:04.24. Wright State’s Molly Pipkorn won the event with a time of 4:54.65. At last year’s league meet, Arnold placed 13th in the 500 with a time that was eight seconds slower.
    In the 50-yard freestyle, junior Megan Rupe placed ninth with a time of 24.21 seconds while freshman Nishani Cicilson, who just missed the championship final, finished 12th with a time of 24.42 seconds. Rupe’s time was a personal best in the event and ranks as the second fastest 50 in school history.
    YSU completed the night with a school-record performance of 3:58.60 in the 400 medley relay. The tandem of Cicilson, Jen Johnstone, Ashley Williamson and Kirstin Walker teamed up to break the school mark, which was set last year at the league meet, by more than two seconds. In the event, YSU finished seventh.
    The Penguins are still clinging to fifth place with a score of 121. The Guins are just ahead of Valparaiso (113) and Cleveland State (109). Milwaukee holds a three-point edge of Green Bay (309-306) after two days of action.
    The championships continue on Friday with the Women's 1-Meter Dive, 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back and 800 Free Relay.