Nov. 29, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern returns to action this weekend at the three day Georgia Fall Invitational in Athens, Ga., for its final competition before the holiday training period. The meet runs from Friday-Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
The meet schedule mirrors that of the NCAA Championships, with preliminary heats in the morning and a finals session each night. Morning sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. CT all three days, while the finals sessions begin at 4 p.m. CT on Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. CT Sunday.
NU joins top-ranked Georgia, No. 7 Florida, No. 15 Virginia, Harvard and West Virginia, in the six-team field. In addition to the three ranked programs at the Invite, Harvard and Northwestern are receiving votes in the most recent College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) dual-meet poll.
The Wildcats are 3-2 in dual meets so far this season, defeating perennial Big Ten power Purdue and traditionally strong Notre Dame. NU's two losses this season were by close margins to No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 22 Indiana.
Northwestern's strength in dual competition thus far this season has been in its relays. The 800 free relay of Andrea Hupman (Lawrenceville, Ga./Brookwood), Emily Wong (Nepean, Ontario/St. Joseph's), Ellen Grigg (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School) and Kassia Shishkoff (Raleigh, N.C./St. David's School) broke NU's Norris Aquatics Center pool record two weeks ago with a 7:23.93, a time which ranks the squad No. 8 in the nation.
All of the Wildcat relays have put up times in the top-22 in the nation thus far this season according to Collegeswimming.com. Individually, senior Katie Braun (Edina, Minn./Edina) has the 'Cats' top rankings this year, coming in at No. 33 in the 100 fly (55.34) and No. 39 in the 200 fly (2:02.11).
Braun has a pair of NCAA `B' provisional qualifying times this season (in the 100 and 200 fly events), as does Shishkoff (500 free, 400 IM).
The meet will be a homecoming of sorts for three-time All-American and U.S. National Team member Hupman, who grew up 40 miles down the road from Athens.
Live results for the meet are available by linking to Georgiadogs.com.