From Leigh Dillard of UGA Sports – ATHENS, GA – Georgia’s Kristy Kowal notched an American record-setting performance with her 1:00.14 mark in the 100-yard breaststroke, sealing a stellar day for Bulldog Swimming and Diving at the Georgia Invitational. The previous record, held by Minnesota’s Gretchen Hegener was a time of 1:00.32 set at last season’s NCAA Championships, a race in which Kowal placed second with a 1:00.38.
“After this morning, I felt like I really could make the record,” said Kowal, “so I just took it easy. The team support really pushed me through. When I got up to the block and saw my team standing up cheering, I knew I could do it. This is a total encouragement for World Championships, especially because I did this without shaving or tapering.”