By Collegian Staff Writers

On the heels of diver Jaime Jaax's three-meter board championship and a multitude of strong swimming performances, the Penn State women's swimming and diving team grabbed fifth place at this weekend's Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis. It was the team's highest finish since 1994.

Host Minnesota defeated 13-time conference champion Michigan to capture the overall competition.

With her victory at three meters, Jaax, a junior, became the first Lady Lion to ever be named Big Ten Diver of the Championships, while diving coach Craig Brown nabbed the Big Ten Diving Coach of the Championships award. Jaax also took home fourth place in the one-meter competition.

Meanwhile, sophomore Christina Stocki swam the second-fastest time in Penn State history in a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke. Swimming in her final championships, senior co-captain Arianne Adams took fifth in the 100-yard backstroke. Adams' time of 50.17 seconds was five seconds shy of Penn State assistant coach Fran McDermid's school record.

In addition, freshman Barb Mulshine took seventh in the 200-yard backstroke in a time of 2:01.25.

Teammates Lindsay Fraschilla and Sarah Jay placed 14th and 15th, respectively, in the same event.

In the final event, Piper Chamberlin, Kelli Keane, Stocki and Adams combined for fifth place in the 400 freestyle relay.