March 20, 2009

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - UNLV freshman Zsuzsanna Jakabos became the first Rebel to earn All-America honors since 2001 as she finished eighth in the 400 IM on Friday night at the 2009 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, held at Texas A&M's Student Rec Center Natatorium.

The top eight finishes in each individual event earn All-American status, while the next eight swimmers that reach the consolation heat at night receive honorable mention All-American. Jakabos swam a time of 4:07.22 in the morning preliminaries to just make the night finals, as she was eighth, 06 ahead of ninth place. In the finals, Jakabos swam 4:07.58, .33 behind seventh place finisher Stephani Proud of Florida. Jakabos holds the UNLV and conference record, set at last month's league championship meet.

Also swimming on Friday was senior Amanda Weinbrecht. In the 100 fly, she finished 22nd in the morning prelims in a time of 52.75, which lowered her school record and was .17 out of 16th place. She also competed in the 100 back, in which she swam a time of 54.41 to place 44th.

With Jakabos' eighth-place finish UNLV scored 11 points and stand in 31st place, the highest of any team from the Mountain West Conference. California holds the overall team lead after two days with 302 points.

The three-day meet concludes on Saturday.