Tulane Swimming Splits Double Dual Meet at ULM

Freshman Leslie Christian won a pair of events and the 400 medley relay team posted a season-best 4:02.57 as the Tulane University swim team split a double-dual meet Saturday afternoon at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

The Green Wave defeated the homestanding Indians, 182-95 and more than held their own against No. 14 Texas A&M, falling 185-113. Not including the diving scores - Tulane will not field a diving program until at least two years - the score against the nationally-ranked Aggies was only a 30 point differential, 143-113. With the split, Tulane runs its season record to 11-3 overall, including an 11-2 mark in dual meet action.

"This was an outstanding performance by these ladies today," head coach Daniella Irle said. "We were facing one of the top teams in the country, and our team came out with intensity and swam very well. They came out and said, 'we may be young, but we're going to bring it at you.' They continued to mature as a unit and got stronger as a team."





Christian spearheaded the effort with a lifetime-best 17:17.51 showing in the 1650-yard freestyle and posted a time of 5:05.53 in the 500-yard freestyle to win both events.

Other individual winners for the Green Wave were Katherine McCoy and Linda McEachrane. McCoy won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.33, and McEachrane topped the 100-yard freestylers with a time of 53.50.

Jessica Hughes was one of three Tulane swimmers to finish second individually with a 17:38.83 in the 1650 free. McEachrane also finished second in the 100 breast (1:06.91), and McCoy posted a pair of runner-up finishes with a 1:01.76 in the 100 back, a 53.97 in the 100 free.

Amanda Williams posted a season-best 1:57.57 in the 200 free to finish third. Williams also placed third in the 200 back (2:31.63) and 200 individual medley (2:12.20). Monica Jones paced Tulane in the 200 fly with a time of 2:10.72 to finish fourth, Taylor Emerson paced the squad in the 100 fly (59.99), and Monica Jones timed a 2:27.99 in the 200 breast to finish third.

In the relay events, the quartet of Williams, McEachrane, Emerson and Megan Underwood posted a Tulane season-best 4:02.57 to finish third in the 400 medley realy, and the squad of McCoy, Underwood, Elizabeth Carey and McEachrane also posted a third-place finish in the 400 free relay (3:40.82).

The Green Wave will return to action on Friday, Jan. 30 when they travel to Mobile, Ala., to take on host Spring Hill College. Following the showdown in Mobile, Tulane will take the pool against Conference USA foe Saint Louis on Feb. 8 to close out the regular season.