Former Wood River High School and SV5B swimming star Michele Lowry of Hailey is wrapping up her collegiate swimming career in high style.
Lowry, a dean's list senior at Denver University, was honored by the Sun Belt Conference as "Female Swimmer of the Year" last weekend during the SBC Championships in Nashville, Tenn.
During the four-day championship meet, Lowry posted new SBC and Denver University records in both the 400 IM and 1650 freestyle, plus a new DU record for the 1000 freestyle based on her split time during the 1650 freestyle event.
She won the 400 IM in 4:12.99, an NCAA Division 1 B cut, SBC record and DU record. Lowry added the 1650 freestyle victory in 16:27.74, another NCAA Division 1 B cut, SBC record and DU record. Her 1000 freestyle split was 9:58.36.
Besides her two individual wins at Centennial SportsPlex/Tracy Caulkins Pool, Lowry was a member of the winning SBC 800 freestyle relay foursome (7:16.43) from Denver that also set two records.
She was voted "Women's Most Outstanding Swimmer" as the Denver women (766 points) won 10 events overall, grabbed eight NCAA standards, broke 16 school records and finished in second place behind Western Kentucky (851).
Lowry, 22, daughter of Robert and Liz Lowry, started swimming at age 3 and joined a year-round team when she was 5. She spent three years at Hailey's Wood River High School and one year at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. She was the 2003 Idaho "Swimmer of the Year."
As a Denver sophomore, she won her first career title in her favorite event, the 400 IM, at the SBC Championships. Michele is a management major who calls five-time Olympian Dara Torres her favorite athlete.
Michele Lowry Photo by
