March 19, 1998

MINNEAPOLIS - USC divers and distance freestylers highlighted the team's first-day performance at the 1998 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships as the Women of Troy, the defending national champions, finished fourth after the first day of the three-day competition at Minnesota's University Aquatics Center on Thursday.

Stanford leads after Day One with 129 points, followed by Georgia and Arizona. USC has 90 points.

Junior Dorte Lindner and senior Natalya Chikina, both All-Americans in 1997, finished third and seventh, respectively, in the 1-meter springboard competition.

USC also featured a pair of championship finalists in the 500 free. Junior Lindsay Benko, the two-time defending 500 free champion. and sophomore transfer Kim Black, finished fifth and seventh in the event.

The women of Troy 400 medley relay team also reached the championship and finished eighth. Jean Ellis Todisco reached the consolation finals of the 200 IM, taking fourth.

Other USC finishers included freshman Alexis Binder and Corrie Murphy in the 500 free and freshman Brittany White in the 200 IM.

The NCAA Championships continue Friday and Saturday. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. and finals start at 5 p.m. both days.