Dec. 9, 2009

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.-- Stanford Olympian Julia Smit was named the Pac-10 Conference's Swimmer of the Month for November following her performances at the Toshiba Cup in Long Beach and the Florida-Michigan-Stanford tri-meet.

Smit, the reigning NCAA Champion in the 200 and 400 individual medley, set her fifth individual school-record last month, in the 200 backstroke (1:52.83), breaking Misty Hyman's 11-year old record. Two of her times were the fastest in the nation, the 200 and 400 IM, as she had five times ranked in the top-10 nationally. The 200 backstroke and 100 free were third-fastest, while the 50 was sixth-fastest.

Smit was also a part of three relays, the 200 (first), 400 (third) and 800 (fifth) freestyles, which ranked in the top-five nationally.

This is the third November in four seasons that Smit has won the award. The three in-season honors, given three times a year, is second most in the Pac-10 to Rebecca Soni's four (USC).

The six awards overall for Stanford Swimming is the most during the award's six-year tenure, besting USC and Cal, which have five a piece. Stanford Women's Diving has an additional six awards, best in the conference along with USC and UCLA.

Smit, along with fellow Olympian and All-American Elaine Breeden, will be featured on NCAA on Campus, a monthly TV show on CBS College Sports, every Monday in January. Check local listings for the time.


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

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