MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The 2009-10 MIAC Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Championships begin this Thursday, February 18 and will run through Saturday, February 20 at the University of Minnesota's Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. The three-day event will feature preliminary races and diving during the morning seasons, starting at 10:30 a.m. each day, followed by event finals in the evening sessions, which start at 6:30 p.m. daily.

Carleton, last year's women's team champion, will be one of the top contenders for the team title again this year. But, Gustavus, St. Thomas, and St. Olaf all enter the championships with talented rosters and could end up on top of the standings after Saturday night. Look for Macalester, Saint Benedict, St. Catherine, and Concordia to battle for the next spots in the standings, but each team does have the potential to crack the top four. Hamline, Saint Mary's, and Augsburg will look to build off last year's performances and make a move up in the standings.

Only two individual event champions for last year graduated on the women's side which should make for some exciting races. 2008-09 Co-Swimmers of the Year Maggie Alexander, a sophomore from Carleton, and Carrie Gundersen, a senior from Gustavus, both return to defend their titles. Alexander won the 500 free, 200 backstroke, and 200 IM while Gundersen won last year's 1650 freestyle. Event champions returning with them are: St. Olaf sophomore Lauren Snyder (50 free and 200 free), St. Olaf junior Alli Beardsley (200 IM), Carleton senior Kate Alexander (400 IM), Macalester senior Karoline Hart (100 breaststroke), St. Thomas senior Jena Root (100 backstroke), St. Thomas junior Becca Ney (100 free), and Gustavus sophomore Anika Erickson (200 breaststroke). 

The chase for the MIAC men's team title could be a tight three-way battle between reigning champion St. Olaf, Gustavus, and St. Thomas. Any one of those three could come out on top based on their performances heading into this weekend. Carleton and Saint John's will fight for a upper level finish in the standings while Macalester, Saint Mary's and Hamline all feature strong individuals that will hopefully carry their teams up the conference standings.

A three-time individual event champion and last year's Co-Divers of the Year highlight the list of men's individual returners. St. Thomas senior Peter Mullee returns after winning the 50 free, and 100 and 200 backstroke last year. St. Olaf senior Ryan Tostrud won the 1-meter dive last season and sophomore teammate Ian Straehly won the 3-meter competition. The pair will lead a talented group of divers this weekend. Other returning individual race champions include St. Thomas sophomore Erik Huls in the 100 butterfly and Gustavus senior Skylar Davis in the 1650 freestyle.

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