MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 3/21/09 - Keene State junior Kristine Trutor (Holden, Mass.) placed 35th in the preliminaries of the 200 backstroke race at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championship taking place at  the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center on Saturday. 

Trutor posted a time of 2:09.40, failing to qualify for the finals in the event.

"I was a little tired," said Trutor, who competed in three events at the national meet.  "I wish I had a better performance today, but overall I was happy with how I did."

Trutor became the first KSC women's swimmer to score at the NCAA Championships on Monday when she qualified for the finals in the 100 fly, placing 14th with a school record time of 57.09.

The following day, she just missed reaching the finals in the 100 back, placing 17th in a school record time of 57.88.

Keene State Coach Jack Fabian said Trutor will benefit from her experience at the NCAA Championships.  "Krissy wants to come back next year and do better," he said.  "She knows what she has to work on to improve and get in the top-eight."

"When you consider the competition, I was really excited about scoring," said Trutor.  "I didn't expect to do so well in the 100 fly.  I'm going to work hard to come back next year.  Hopefully more members of the team will qualify."

Trutor is the second KSC women's swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Freshman Rachel Mondello raced in the 50 freestyle event last year.