IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Evansville senior Sarah Jahns (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview) became the first female Purple Ace to break the two-minute barrier in the 200-Yard Backstroke on Saturday, while placing third overall to lead a strong final day in the pool for UE at the MVC Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.

After advancing to the main final with a preliminary time of 2:02.72, Jahns came back in the final and dropped over three seconds off of her time to place third overall with a time of 1:59.06.  It topped her own previous school record in the event by over a second, and it allowed her to become the first female Purple Ace to break the two-minute barrier.

"I am so proud of Sarah, and really all of the swimmers, with how they competed today," said UE head coach Stuart Wilson.  "They all gave it their all today, and finished on a high note.  For Sarah, I know that beating two minutes in the 200 Back has been a goal of hers this year, and to see her do it, and also earn first team all-MVC honors was outstanding."

Jahns was one of six Purple Aces to advance to the Saturday night finals.  Fellow senior Maya Cunningham (Yakima, Wash./Eisenhower) finished second in the consolation final of the 200-Yard Butterfly with a finals time of 2:04.31, which trails only her own school record in the event all-time at UE.

Sophomore Mari Müller (Zurich, Switzerland) moved into third place on UE's career chart for the 200-Yard Breaststroke, as she posted a time of 2:18.70 to place 13th overall.  Seniors Sage Moore (Lexington, Ohio/Lexington) and Allison McDonald (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Central) finished back-to-back in the "C Final" of the 200 Breaststroke with times of 2:23.99 and 2:24.62, respectively.  Junior Iryna Tsesiul (Minsk, Belarus) also posted a time of 2:07.83 in the "C Final" of the 200-Yard Backstroke.

Evansville wrapped up the MVC Championships by placing ninth in the 400-Yard Freestyle Relay event with a time of 3:31.91.  Senior Sonsoles Aguayo (Jerez, Spain) led off the relay with one of her top 100-Yard Freestyle times as an Ace, with a split time of 52.93 as the lead leg.  She teamed Jahns, Cunningham, and sophomore Sveva Brugnoli (Rome, Italy) for the relay event.

Overall, Evansville placed eighth as a team with a total of 390 points.  Members of the UE women's team will next compete in the CSCAA National Invitational Championship on March 8-11 in Elkhart, Indiana.  The UE men's swimming and diving team will next compete March 1-4 at the Mid-American Conference Championships in Oxford, Ohio.