WKU's Donahue Off To Successful 2009 Season

After a record breaking year in 2008, junior Claire Donahue is on her way to an even more successful 2009 season.  In a report by USA Swimming and Diving, Donahue currently ranks 17th all-time in the United States in the 100 butterfly with her impressive time of 58.77 seconds at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.

"I am very proud of the continued rate of improvement that I have seen in Claire since she has been at WKU," head coach Bruce Marchionda said.  "I hope that she continues to improve and will move up in the rankings towards 2012."

Donahue, who placed ninth in the event at the USA Swimming National Championships, placed first in her final.  In addition, she placed 19th at the 2009 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in the 100 Fly and 34th in the 200 Fly.  She also helped lead the Lady Toppers to their second consecutive Sun Belt Conference Swimming and Diving Championship in 2008 by winning both the 100 and 200 Fly and being a part of two first place relay teams.  At the championships, she broke the SBC championship record in the 200 Fly and rewrote the WKU record books in the two events.

So far this season, Donahue has picked up wins in the 100 and 200 Fly at Georgia Tech.  While competing at Georgia Tech, she competed against Clemson, Georgia Tech and Miami and accomplished an NCAA "B" cut in the 100 Fly.  She also finished over two seconds faster  in the 100 Fly than the second place finisher.
Donahue and the Lady Toppers will continue competition on October 24 when they host the Red and White Meet in Bowling Green, Ky.