March 24, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sophomore Katie Sieben wrapped her first-ever appearance in the NCAA National Championship this weekend, swimming the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly in Columbus, Ohio. Sieben's appearance marked the fifth-consecutive season that the Spiders have been represented at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships.

A native of Seymour, Conn., Sieben competed in the 50 free on Thursday evening, the 100 fly on Friday night and the 100 free on Saturday evening.

Although not qualifying for the finals, the 2007 A-10 Rookie of the Year posted times of 23.53 in the 500 free (67th place), 50.63 in the 100 free (68th) and 54.03 in the 100 fly (39th).

Sieben had punched her ticket to Columbus early this season, swimming the 100 fly at November's Terrapin Cup in a time of 53.73, which then ranked as the third-fastest time in the nation and marked Richmond's second-ever NCAA "A"-cut.

She also achieved "B"-cut times in both the 50 and 100 free, allowing her to swim those events in Columbus as well.

Lauren Beaudreau and Jessica Witt had each competed in the last two NCAA Championships for Richmond. The trio helped lead Richmond to the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championships - its unprecedented seventh-consecutive A-10 title.