HILLSDALE, Mich. â€Â“The NMU womenâ€Â™s swimming and diving team is in fourth place after the first dayof competition at the 2004 GLIAC Swimming and Diving Championships at Hillsdale College.  The Aqua-â€Â˜Cats have 43 points after six events.  Grand Valley State Universityis leading the meet with 73 points.  The team also had their first champion ofthe meet.  Kathie Cole captured the three-meter diving event with a score of370.57.

The first event of the meet the200-yard medley relay the tandem of Shelly Ruspakka, Larisa Graham, Anna Hermanand Ellen (Cricket) Knight placed fourth with a clocking of 1:50.86.  The nextevent on the schedule was the 1000 freestyle as Lindsey Vermillion placedeighth (11:02.88).

The meet continues on Thursday(Feb. 19) and will wrap up on Saturday.