THURSDAY RESULTS

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Alexandra Crigler (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), along with the Kutztown University 200-medley relay, established school records on the first day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships at Cumberland Valley High School Thursday night.
 
Crigler finished third in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10 minutes, 23.07 seconds) to break teammate Heather Wolkom's (Rumson, N.J./Rumson Fair-Haven Regional ) old mark of 10:31.88 that she set at last year's PSAC championship meet. Crigler's effort was also an NCAA provisional qualifying standard. Wolkom also earned a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 1,000-yard freestyle after placing fifth (10:25.30).
 
"I was pretty excited after my race," Crigler said. "I am also happy for Heather as well. It's good to have her pushing me in practice and during competitions. I was really surprised about setting the school record."
 
The Golden Bears 200-medley relay team of Allison Sheely (Enola, Pa./Trinity), Steph Jeppesen (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), Nikki Hinsdale (Glen Mills, Pa./Bayard Rustin) and Jordan Shapiro (Yardville, N.J./Princeton) capped a fantastic day by smashing a 13-year old school record during the timed trials. The quartet swooshed to victory in 1:47.47 to automatically qualify for the NCAA Division II championship meet next month in Canton, Ohio.
 
The previous standard was 1:48.91 set by Claudine Gruver, Christy Taber, Elizabeth Thoryk and Jen Sullivan at the 1997 NCAA meet in San Antonio, Texas. Jeppesen already had automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in a pair of events. Now she has company. With three days remaining, the guest list to the NCAA championships could swell.
 
The individual efforts of Crigler and Wolkom helped Kutztown finish in third with 30 points after the opening day. The Golden Bears are behind West Chester (50 points) and Shippensburg (38).
 
"It was nice to see Alexandra break the school record," Kutztown head coach Tim Flannery said. "We've been working with her on her strokes and lengthening everything out. She looked strong and finished strong."
 
Flannery entered his team into the time trials so that they could have an opportunity to break the school record in the event. They made the most of the chance. What's even better is they will have another opportunity to swim faster.
 
"Our girls blew that record a part," Flannery said. "We are very excited. We were hoping to get off to a fast start. The 200-medley relay team really topped off an outstanding day for us. This is a good way to start this meet."
 
The four-day meet continues Friday morning with the preliminaries at 10 a.m. and the finals starting at 6 p.m.
 
"Everyone feels awesome after our relay team finished their race," Crigler said. "We are going to be really pumped going into tomorrow."