March 21, 2003

AUBURN, ALA. - Jessi Perruquet of the University of North Carolina tied for the NCAA championship in the 200-yard freestyle Friday night at the 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championships being hosted by Auburn University. Perruquet, a junior from Danville, Pa., tied Heather Kemp of host Auburn with a time of 1:45.01. The two just edged Georgia's Julie Hardt who finished third in 1:45.14. Perruquet's time was a new school record for the Tar Heels.

Perruquet's co-win in the 200-yard freestyle helpedmoved UNC into 17th place in the team standings with 42.5 points after the second day of competition. UNC was 22nd after the first day of competition and all six Tar Heels in the meet will swim individual events on Saturday.

''This is an amazing feeling. Coming in, all I wanted to do was better my time from last year," said Perruquet. "I never dreamed of winning. Tying is just as good, especially with someone like Heather (Kemp). I consider it a great honor to be able to tie with her."

Perruquet had to come from behind in the last 50 yards of the race to claim the tie as she swam the last 50 yards in 26.72 compared to 27.23 for Kemp. Hardt almost caught up to both the Tar Heel and the Tiger as she split 26.48 on the last 50.

Perruquet becomes UNC first national champion in swimming since Sue Walsh won the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events at the 1984 NCAA Championships.

Perruquet is only the eighth Tar Heel swimmer in history--men and women--to win an individual national championship. The others were Phil Drake, Charlie Krepp and Phil Riker among the men and Anne Marshall, Bonnie Brown, Barb Harris and Sue Walsh among the women. Cami Berizzi and Amy Pless were also part of a relay national title along with Harris and Walsh in 1981.

Carolina's 800-yard freestyle relay also performed well Friday night as it finished 10th. The relay was led off by Whitney Smith in 1:51.50, followed by Perruquet in 1:46.30, Christy Watkins in 1:50.32 and Kelly Weeks in 1:48.00.

In other events on Friday, junior Becky Acker finished 23rd in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.95, junior Kelly Weeks finished 37th in the 200-yard freestyle with a career best time of 1:49.62 and junior Whitney Smith placed 57th in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:51.74.

Carolina's 200-yard medley relay placed 22nd with a time of 1:45.56. That relay consisted of senior Laura Collier (27.70), Acker (29.22), Weeks (26.07) and senior Christy Watkins (22.57).