Women swimmers face old faces

The best of the best squared off against each other at the Big Ten All-Star meet in Chicago this past weekend.

The tournament showcased the best of Big Ten swimmers and divers challenging Team USA.

"It was a great opportunity for a lot of good swimmers to get together in a somewhat low pressure environment and do a little racing to kinda see where everyone is in the long course pool right now," Michigan women's swimming coach Jim Richardson said.

Four swimmers - senior Jennie Eberwein, sophomore Jen Crisman and freshmen Lindsay Carlberg and Kerrianne Kalbko - represented Michigan on the Big Ten All-Star team while two former Wolverines - Talor Bendel and Linda Riker - competed on the USA National Team.

"I think Linda and Talor both swam very well," Richardson said. "They're both trianing very hard right now ... Linda is representing the United States in Spain at the World University Games in the backstrokes."

As a member of the Big Ten's 800 freestyle relay team, Eberwein helped it take second place, 11 seconds behind the first-place finishers, with a time of 8:34.73.

But Crisman had the biggest day for the Wolverines as she took second in the 100 backstroke (1:05.71) and second as a member of the Big Ten 400 medley relay team with a time of 4:20.41.

"I think (Crisman) swam well," Richardson said. "I think she is training exceptionally well and racing very well in a tired state."

No score was kept for the meet.

11-16-98