SHENANDOAH, Texas - Mount Holyoke College junior Cathleen Pruden earned her second straight National All-America honor on Thursday evening, finishing eighth in the 400-individual medley at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships. Pruden is the second swimmer to earn All-America honors at Mount Holyoke and the first to finish in the top eight twice.

In a field of incredible talent, Pruden (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft School) finished eighth overall in her signature event with a time of 4:25.96. She came into the evening finals seeded eighth as well after recording a time of 4:24.96 in the morning preliminaries.

Pruden, who finished fourth in the 400-IM a season ago, joins Katie Herrold '00 as the only other Mount Holyoke College swimmer to garner All-America honors. Herrold represented the Lyons in 1997, earning All-America Honorable Mention in the 1650-freestyle.

Tonight's race was the second of three races at this year's Nationals for Pruden, who finished 26th overall in the 200-IM on Wednesday. Though she did not make it to the finals, Pruden recorded a solid time of 2:06.54.

Pruden's final swim at NCAA's will come on Saturday as she competes in the 1650-freestyle. That event will be contested during the later portion of the morning session, which begins at 10am (11am Eastern Time).

Photo of Pruden (in the 400-IM at NEWMAC's) courtesy of Frank Poulin Sports Photography.