Western Kentucky Sweeps Southern Illinois

The WKU men's and women's swimming and diving teams took on Southern Illinois on Saturday claiming 17 first place titles during the day-long event and sweeping the competition. The men's team won the competition by a score of 157-143 while the women took first place with a score of 182-115.

In the women's competition, Brittany Doss kicked things off for the Lady Toppers winning first place in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:06.49. Doss helped lead WKU to their second win of the day in the 200 medley relay with teammates Stephanie Terrell, Claire Donahue and Kaitlyn Casper, when the team won the race with a time of 1:06.49.

In other women's action, Krista Mantay both the 500 and 1000 free races with times of 5:07.58 and 10:28.28 respectively. Donahue also added a second win to the total with a win in the 100 fly competition with a time of 55.31 and the 200 fly with a time of 2:02.45. Kate Sweeney was right behind Donahue in the 200 butterfly as she picked up a second place finish touching the wall with a time of 2:07.45.

Stepanie Martin also won an event for the Lady Toppers in the meet as she won the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:21.26 and finished second in the 100 breast. Finally for the women, Claire Alexandre took home the fastest time in the 50 free with a time of 23.97 and Terrell brought home the win in the 200 backstroke with a time of 57.03.

In the men's meet, David Menchinger was the first winner for the Hilltoppers in the 100 backstroke as he started things off for WKU with a time of 52.68. Following the women's lead, the men's team of Cameron Watkins, Bryan Mell, Stephan Claycomb and Kyle Johnson won the second relay of the day for WKU in the 200 medley relay by touching the wall with a time of 1:34.13.

Sean Penhale was a big winner for the Hilltoppers as he won two events, the 500 and 1000 freestyle races. Penhale clocked a time of 4:34.61 in the 500 free to take first place and a time of 9:41.69 in the 1000 free to secure the win. Cameron Brown also walked away with two wins capturing first place in the 100 breast with a time of 56.89 and in the 200 breast with a time of 2:04.97.

In diving action, Erica Wilson won first place in the women's one meter diving competition with a score of 241.05 while teammate Emily Waits finished second with a score of 239.70.

The men's and women's swimming and diving teams will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 31 when they host Louisville in the final meet before the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.