RELEASE DATE: 12/04/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ABBE TIPTON AND STEPHANIE KLEGARTH BOTH QUALIFY FOR PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP AT IUP INVITATIONAL

INDIANA, PA – Abbe Tipton finished second in the 200 backstroke to qualify for the PSAC Championship in her second event during the weekend as the three day IUP Invitational closed Sunday.

Tipton, who earlier qualified for the conference championship in the 100 backstroke, finished second in the 200 on Sunday with a time of 2:09.32.

Also earning team points on Sunday were freshmen Tricia Learn with an eighth place finish in the 1650 (20:37.75) and Mary Tucker who finished 17^th in the same event (20:37.75).

Stephanie Klegarth, who qualified for the PSAC Championship in the 100 breast of Friday with a school record 1:10.95, was 12^th in the 200 breaststroke at 2:48.72.

Maureen Maikner was 14^th in the 200 fly with a time of 2:36.96 while the 400 free relay team of Andrea Popovic, Tricia Learn, Daniella Borrelli and Tipton finished seventh with a time of 3:56.20.

Mansfield finished up the three day meet in seventh place with 231.5 points. IUP won the women’s competition with 940 points.

The Mountaineers will return to Decker Pool this Saturday when they host King’s College in the final home meet of 2005. It also marks the last home meet for graduating seniors Andrea Popovic and Melissa Recchiuti. Both, along with fellow senior Diana Daniel, will be honored before the 1 p.m. start on Saturday.

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