University of Connecticut Athletics
Pedersen Tallies Two Championships At Norwegian Nationals
3/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
NORWAY - UConn junior swimmer Christine Pedersen (Vinterbro, Norway) earned multiple individual championships at the 2015 Norwegian Short Course Nationals, tallying first-place finishes in two backstroke events. The Connecticut standout also placed second in another backstroke at the three-day event, which took place March 19-22 in Kristiansand, Norway.
Pedersen, who swept the backstroke events at last July's Norwegian National Championships, won the 100-meter backstroke last week after swimming the race in 1:01.61. Grethe Tenden finished second (1:02.48), and Saetra Inger-Ane Schefte was third in the event with a time of 1:03.20.
In the 200-meter backstroke, Pedersen cruised to a first-place finish, completing the race nearly four seconds clear of the next competitor. She boasted a time of 2:13.48, while Schefte earned second place after swimming the race in 2:17.19.
Pedersen rounded out her time at the Norwegian Nationals with a second-place showing in the 50-meter backstroke. She posted a time of 27.74 seconds to finish just behind Katharina Stiberg (27.74). Cecilie Johannessen was third in the event with a time of 29.37, and Tended earned fourth-place honors after swimming it in 29.52.
"I am really proud of Christine's accomplishments," UConn swimming coach Bob Goldberg said. "To be able to train for a couple of weeks after our conference meet and then go perform like that in Norway is remarkable. It's great she was able to defend her championships."
Pedersen earned All-Conference honors this past season after finishing third in the finals of the 200-yard backstroke at the 2015 American Athletic Championships. As a freshman, she was tabbed the Conference Female Swimmer of the Week following her sweep of the backstroke events in UConn's meet against Colgate (Feb. 2, 2014).
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