Christy Watkins

Position:
Back/Free
Height:
5-9
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Winter Springs, Fla.

Career Best Times: 53.92 in the 100-yard backstroke; 2:00.88 in the 200-yard backstroke; 55.23 in the 100-yard butterfly; 22.45 in the 50-yard freestyle; 49.71 in the 100-yard freestyle; 26.14 in the 50-meter freestyle; 57.41 in the 100-meter freestyle.

General: Was named one of the Top 50 Swimmers in Atlantic Coast Conference women’s swimming history as part of the ACC Top 50 Team announced in September 2002...one of the most dynamic swimmers in the Atlantic Coast Conference...ranks second in UNC history in the 50-yard freestyle at 22.45, fifth in the 100-yard freestyle at 49.71, first in the 100-yard backstroke at 53.92 and fifth in the 100-yard butterfly at 55.23...ACC meet record holder in the 50-yard freestyle at 22.45 seconds...holds the Atlantic Coast Conference record in the 100-yard backstroke...that same record is the UNC school record, ACC meet record and Koury Natatorium record as well...members of school record holding 200 medley, 400 medley, 200 free and 400 free relays...three-time All-America and three-time All-ACC selection...really excited the crowd at the 2000 ACC Championships with her amazing swims in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke...broke Sue Walsh’s 17-year-old ACC record to win the 100 back and recorded the second fastest time in UNC history in the 50-yard freestyle...was one of the top candidates as a freshman for the MVP of the ACC Championships as well as for ACC Rookie of the Year...a talented returning three-time letter winner...a gifted freestyle sprinter, backstroker and butterflier...the 1998 Florida 4A High School Swimmer of the Year...swam for coach Mitch Ivey at the Trinity Aquatic Club...an 11-year club swimmer who excels in the 100 back, 100 fly, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 free and 200 back...does well in classroom.

Summer 2002: Had an outstanding U.S. Nationals as she placed 13th in the 50-meter free and 23rd in the 100-meter free...qualified for the 2004 Olympic Trials in the 50 free.

2001-02: Named an NCAA All-America in several events...was honorable mention in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle...finished 10th in the 50 free and 15th in the 100 free...she also earned honorable mention All-America honors on all five UNC relay teams...won ACC titles in the 100-yard backstroke and the 50-yard freestyle, the third successive year she has won those events at the league meet...was also runnerup in the 100 free...swam on four relays which placed third in the meet...named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference...set personal best times in the 50-yard free and 100-yard free...tapped for Dean’s List in both semesters last year...named to 2002 ACC Academic Honor Roll...

Summer 2001: Swam at the U.S. Nationals in Clovis, Calif. where she placed 14th in the 50-meter free, 20th in the 100-meter free and 37th in the 100-meter back. 2000-2001: Won ACC individual championships in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke for the second straight year...repeated in the 50 free with a time of 22.74 seconds...captured the 100 back title in 55.10...named first team All-ACC...she took fifth place in the 100-yard freestyle in her third event...she swam the leadoff leg on the ACC champion 400-yard medley relay team and on the ACC champion 400-yard freestyle relay...swam the backstroke leg on UNC’s ACC champion 200-yard medley relay team which established a school record....swam the anchor leg on UNC’s 200 free relay team at ACC’s which finished second but set the school record...at the 2001 NCAA Championships she earned first-team All-America honors and excelled in the relays...swam the second leg on the 400 free relay which placed eighth in a school record...anchored the 200-yard medley relay to a 10th place finish and the 200-yard freestyle relay to an 11th place finish and led off the 400-yard medley relay to an 11th place finish and a school record...in individual events, she was 18th in the 50 free, 31st in the 100 back and 40th in the 100 free...a Dean’s List student in spring semester 2001...was also named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

1999-2000: Emerged as one of the best and most versatile swimmers in the Atlantic Coast Conference…named women’s team’s Most Outstanding Swimmer…broke Tar Heel legend Sue Walsh’s 17-year old school and conference record in the 100 back (53.92)…at the 2000 ACC Championships, she captured both the 100 back and 50 free (22.66) crowns...also finished fourth in the 100 fly (55.23)…her performance in the 50 free was the second-fastest ever for a Tar Heel, while her 100 fly clocking placed her fifth all-time at UNC…was a key member of UNC’s 200 free relay and 400 medley relay which broke the school and Koury Natatorium records at ACC’s...she led off Carolina’s 400 free relay, which finished third, with a time of 50.03, the fourth-best ever for Carolina...also a member of UNC’s 200 medley relay which finished second…All-ACC selection…at the 2000 NCAA Championships, she garnered honorable menion All-America honors with her 16th-place finish in the 50 free...also finished tied for 22nd in the 100 free and 24th in the 100 back… a member of UNC’s 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay both of which placed 13th and the 200 free relay that finished 15th at the NCAA Championships.

Prep: Graduated from Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Fla. on June 5, 1999...besides swimming, she played two years of soccer and one year of softball...six-time Florida state high school champion...former national independent school record holder in the 100-yard backstroke...national U.S.S. qualifier in the 100 and 200 back, 100 fly, 50 and 100 free and 200 IM...was elected to membership in National Honor Society. Personal: Given name is Christine Andrea Watkins...has one brother...was born August 11, 1981 in Washington, D.C....daughter of Ronald and Pauline “Polly” Watkins...active in volunteer work with Athletes in Action, Carolina Pals and Habitat for Humanity...athletes she most admire is Josh Davis...biggest sports thrills have been the ACC meet her freshman year and watching Carolina beat Duke in basketball her sophomore year...exercise science and sports science major...wants to attend grad school.