Jan. 22, 2008

WASHINGTON - American University women's swimming and diving senior Meghan Thiel has been named the Patriot League Female Swimmer of the Week, conference officials announced Tuesday. Thiel celebrated senior night in the Robert H. Frailey Pool Friday evening with three wins and three new entries into both the AU and Patriot League all-time top-10.

Thiel earned swimming's version of a hat trick with wins in the 200, 500 and 1000 free. Thiel's 200 time of 1:53.92 is the ninth-fastest mark ever recorded by an AU female swimmer and is the seventh-fastest time in PL history. In the 500, Thiel won with a time of 5:01.50, good enough for the program's seventh-fastest time and the Leagues fifth-fastest time. Thiel's 1000 time of 10:11.87 is the second best ever for AU and third best for the PL.

Thiel already owns the AU record in the 200, 500 and 1000 free, and also has the PL's all-time best time in the 1000 free. This marks Thiel's third PL Female Swimmer of the Week honor this season, having also won the award on Oct. 30 and Dec. 4.