Johnson has successful first day at NCAAs
California University of Pa.’s Melissa Gates won by the slimmest of margins, but the junior held off the field Wednesday to win the women’s 50-yard freestyle at the 2011 NCAA Division II Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships at Palo Alto College Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas.
Gates touched the wall in 22.72 seconds, just .38 seconds ahead of Incarnate Word’s Tamiris Nascimento. Gates bettered her time of 23.02 seconds in the prelims.
Indiana University of Pa. senior Kaitlyn Johnson earned first-team All-America honors as well because the Uniontown graduate finished fifth with a time of 23.26 seconds.
Johnson earned a second All-America nod when the Golden Eagles placed fifth in the 200 medley relay. Johnson swam the third leg, helping the Clarion medley quartet finish in 1:44.43 seconds. Wayne State won the title in 1:40.78.
Connellsville grad and Drury (Mo.) University senior Heidi Halfhill did not advance to the finals, finishing 26th overall in a time of 23.97 seconds.
Fellow Connellsville graduate and Edinboro University senior Marie Nedley finished 25th in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:41.05, a bit slower than her seed time of 10:29.39.