The NCAA News - News and Features

March 9, 1998

Division III Women's Swimming and Diving

Kenyon poised to claim 15th title

Event: 1998 Division III Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.

Overview: Fourteen years and counting: That's the Kenyon dynasty at the Division III women's championships. This year doesn't look to be much different. The Ladies return 13 all-Americans from last year's squad. Kenyon is led by junior Amelia Armstrong, the defending champion in the 500 freestyle. Armstrong was named the top female swimmer in the North Coast Athletic Conference meet after placing first in the three longest and most challenging races -- the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events and the 400-yard individual medley. Kenyon set conference records in the 400 individual medley, the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. The Ladies extended their streak to 22 consecutive state or conference titles at this year's conference meet .... The only other team ever to win the Division III championship is Williams, but that was back in 1983. Williams captured its 10th consecutive New England title this year. Erin Anderson, last year's champion in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes, hopes to repeat this year. Senior Marla Robertson, a member of last year's championship 400-yard freestyle relay team, also helps lead the team. The Ephs will send their largest contingent of competitors to the championship this year: 13 swimmers and two divers.

Field: The maximum number of participants allowed is 216. All qualifiers who have met the "A" time standard will be admitted in the meet; those who have met the "B" time standard will be considered for the field. No team is allowed more than 18 competitors.

Dates and site: Principia will host the championships March 12-14 at the St. Peter's Rec Plex in St. Louis.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 5215 for the list of qualifiers, 5216 for the first day's results, 5217 for the second day's results and 5218 for the final day's results. Individual and team results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Championships results will be published in the March 23 issue of The NCAA News.