March 16, 2012
Results
Auburn, Ala. -
Fordham junior Brienne Ryan continued her exceptional 2011-12 season today by competing in the 100 backstroke at the NCAA Championships at Auburn University, placing 20th in the preliminaries in a time of 53.10.
California's Cindy Tran had the fastest preliminary 100 backstroke time with a 50.83 clocking followed by Arizona's Sa Denninghoff (51.33), Megan Roman of Georgia (51.67), Paige Miller from Texas (51.78), Jenni Connolly of Tennessee (51.92), Elizabeth Webb from Stanford (51.97), Georgia's Kristin Shickora (52.26) and Theresa Svendsen of SMU (52.28).
Ryan's 20th-place time of 53.10 was behind Minnesota's Tess Behrens (52.96) but just ahead of Tennessee sophomore Lauren Solernou (53.11) and was just shy of qualifying for the finals. The top eight times qualified for the A Final while the next eight qualified for the B Final (the 17th and 18th finishers qualified as alternates). She was just 0.25 seconds behind Cal's Melanie Klaren, who turned in the 16th fastest 100 backstroke preliminary time (52.85).
Besides Ryan, only Chuck Felice (swimming) and Paul Delo (diving) have represented Fordham as individual entries at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship. She is also one of only two athletes from the Atlantic 10 to compete in this year's women's championship. Richmond's Lauren Hines is competing in the 100 and 200 backstroke events. Hines placed 13th in the 100 backstroke preliminaries (52.29).
Ryan was once again one of Fordham's top performers, earning All-Atlantic 10 honors in seven events, while setting three individual school records, as well as one relay record. She was the Atlantic 10 Champion in the 50-yard freestyle event (23.18), as well as in the 800 freestyle relay with Kara Field, Alexandra Wessel, and Courtney Collyer (7:21.56). She also earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events, the 200 and 400-yard medley relay, and the 400-yard freestyle relay.
On the year, Ryan set new Fordham marks in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle (50.62), 100-yard backstroke (52.88), and as a member of the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:23.70).
Ryan will now compete in the 200 backstroke preliminaries on Saturday. She qualified with a 1:57.26 clocking at the Atlantic 10 Championships.
