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THE CHAMP: Kirk ended her college
career undefeated in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Glen Johnson |
Cardinal swimmers set two
world records at the NCAAs in March. Senior Tara Kirk
broke the world record in the 100-meter breaststroke
with a time of 1:04.79 at the women’s championships
on March 19, and ended her college career in that event
undefeated. A week later, senior Peter Marshall set
a world record in the 100-meter backstroke, clocking
in at 50:32. Both received NCAA Swimmer of the Year
honors, and in April Kirk won the Honda Award for the
nation’s most outstanding collegiate athlete in
swimming and diving.
The NCAA championship was the final meet as college
teammates for Kirk and her sister, Dana, a sophomore
and the squad’s top butterflier. When Tara broke
the world record, Dana was too emotional to congratulate
her right away, according to the San Jose Mercury
News. But shortly she jumped into the warm-down
pool and told her sister, “I just had to calm
down before I gave you a hug.”
Tara Kirk also broke the American record in the 200-meter
breaststroke on March 20 with a time of 2:20.70, winning
that event for the 19th consecutive time in collegiate
competition and earning her 11th NCAA title. She said
she didn’t think her college career “could
have had a better ending.” Looking ahead to the
U.S. Olympic trials, she added, “I feel like I’m
ready to play with the big girls.”
The Cardinal women finished fifth overall at the NCAAs,
behind Auburn, Georgia, Arizona and Florida. The men’s
team finished second, with 377.5 points to Auburn’s
634. In March, the men won an unprecedented 23rd consecutive
Pac-10 title.
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