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Cal freshman swimmer piles up more honors

Daily Planet Wire Services
Saturday April 07, 2001

Cal freshman swimming standout Natalie Coughlin notched another accolade for her outstanding 2000-01 season as she was named both the Pacific-10 Conference Newcomer of the Year and Swimmer of the Year. It was the first time in Pac-10 history someone has been named to both awards. Coughlin is also the third consecutive Cal swimmer to earn Pac-10 Swimmer of the Year honors (Marylyn Chiang in 1999, Haley Cope in 2000) under head coach Teri McKeever.  

Coughlin had what was arguably the greatest freshman campaign of any collegiate swimmer in NCAA history. She was named the 2001 NCAA Swimmer of the Year after winning the national title in the 100-meter fly and the 100- and 200-meter backstroke, while breaking NCAA records in all three events. She swam an NCAA record 51.18 in the 100 fly; an NCAA, American and U.S. Open record 51.23 in the 100 back; and a NCAA, American and U.S. Open record 1:51.02 in the 200 back.  

Coughlin helped the Bears to three second-place NCAA finishes in the relays as well. She swam the butterfly leg of the Bears 400-meter medley relay that set an American record with a time of 3:34.83, and on Cal’s 200-meter medley relay that placed second and also an American record with a time of 1:38.44. Finally, she swam the second leg of Cal’s 200-meter freestyle relay that set a new school record with a time of 1:30.05.  

Coughlin went on to win USS National Swimming titles last week in Austin, Tex., in both in the 100-meter butterfly (59.38) and the 100-meter backstroke (1:01.32). Coughlin will represent the United States at the 2001 World Championship, July 22-29 in Fukuoka, Japan.