Meghan Thiel Named PL's Female Swimmer of the Week

Oct. 30, 2007

WASHINGTON - American University swimmer Meghan Thiel was named the Patriot League's Female Swimmer of the Week after winning five individual events and earning a spot on AU's all-time top-10 list this past weekend, conference officials announced Tuesday.

Thiel and her Eagles squad competed against George Washington and Catholic University on both Friday and Saturday in a non-scoring meet. The eight-time Patriot League Champion entered six events during the two day meet and came away with five victories and a fourth-place finish. Thiel began her season Friday night with a win in the 500 free. Her time of 4:59.56 put Thiel a solid 12 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Thiel also recorded victories in the 200 free (1:54.70), 1650 free (17:11.67), 200 breast (2:28.71) and 400 IM (4:44.60) in her season debut. Thiel's victory in the 200 breast marked the first time that she had ever entered the event and she earned herself a spot on American's all-time top-10 chart at No. 8, making it the seventh time that her name appears on the list. In the only other event that she entered, the 200 IM, Thiel took fourth place in a time of 2:17.23.

Thiel and the rest of the Eagles will be off from action this week as they prepare for their first conference competition of the year. On Saturday, Nov. 10, AU will head to Annapolis, Md. where it will square off against Navy, Bucknell and Lafayette in a meet scheduled for noon.