March 8, 2010

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.-- The months of the season belong to Julia Smit, as the Stanford senior was named the Pac-10 Conference's Swimmer of the Month for an unprescedented fourth-straight month, earning the latest award for the month of February.

Smit finished off her month of February by being named the Pac-10 Championships unanimous “Swimmer of the Meet” after breaking her own American, NCAA and school-record in the 200 and 400 individual medleys. She also broke her own school-record in the 200 backstroke during the meet.

The Cardinal, who are next in action at the NCAA Championships, starting on March 18, won its first Pac-10 title since 2005.

Also during the month of February, Smit won the 200 freestyle, as well as the 200 IM and 400 IM in a dual meet against Cal to finish off a perfect dual season at 9-0. During her four-year career the Cardinal went an impressive 46-1 in dual meets.

Smit's senior season has encompassed world records at the Duel in the Pool in Manchester, England in the 200 IM and 400 IM shortcourse in December; American records in February at the Pac-10 Championships; setting three of her five school-records during the season; being named Pac-10 Swimmer of the Month four times; and national collegeswimming.com swimmer of the week, three.

Smit also set two Avery Aquatics Center pool records in the 200 IM and 400 IM, the ladder, previously held by Summer Sanders in 1992.

Pac-10 Swimmers of the Month from Stanford
2004-05: Jan: Caroline Bruce, Feb: Caroline Bruce
2005-06: Jan: Brooke Bishop
2006-07: Nov: Julia Smit
2007-08: None
2008-09: Nov: Julia Smit
2009-10: Nov: Julia Smit, Dec: Julia Smit, Jan: Julia Smit, Feb: Julia Smit

Pac-10 Divers of the Month from Stanford
2004-05: Jan: Ashlee Rosenthal
2005-06: None
2006-07: Nov: Cassidy Krug
2007-08: Dec: Meg Hostage, Feb: Meg Hostage
2008-09: Jan: Carmen Stellar, Feb: Carmen Stellar
2009-10: Jan: Meg Hostage