Leigh Sanders

Position:
Back/Free
Height:
5-9
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Morgantown, W. Va.

Career Best Times: 4:52.02 in the 500-yard freestyle; 9:54.09 in the 1000-yard freestyle; 16:34.84 in the 1650-yard freestyler; 4:19.79 in the 400-yard individula medley; 2:00.20 in the 200-yard backstroker.

General: Sixth-fastest 200-yard backstroker in UNC history at 2:00.20...eighth fastest Tar Heel in the 400-yard individual medley at 4:19.71...a talented three-time returning letter winner for the Tar Heel distance corps...also talented in the backstroke at both distances and in the the 400-yard individual medley...swam for coach Dan Langan at the Mountaineer Aquatic Club.

2001-02: Named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference...achieved a career best in the 200-yard backstroke...swam more as a backstroker and IM swimmer as a junior after being a freestyler her first two years...her ACC finishes included third in 200 back, fifth in the 400 IM and 14th in the 100 back.

2000-2001: Had an outstanding 2001 ACC Championships performance...named first team All-ACC...took 14th place in the 500-yard freestyle...went a career best 4:19.79 in taking fifth in the 400 IM...had a career best time of 2:01.00 (prelim) as she finished second in the 200 back.

1999-2000: At the 2000 ACC Championships, she finished fourth in the 400 IM (4:20.65), the ninth-fastest clocking all-time by a UNC swimmer, fifth in the 500 free (4:52.02), the eighth-best performance ever by a Tar Heel, and fifth in the 1650 free.

Prep: A 1999 graduate of Morgantown High School...swam for four years there...says she swam virtually every possible event while a prepster...was captain of team and a state champion in individual events...led team to regional championship...an All-State qualifier.

Personal: Given name is Leigh Allison Sanders...has one brother...was born July 2, 1981 in Morgantown, W.Va....daughter of Rick and Donna Sanders...says that people think she looks like Jill Taylor from the TV show "Home Improvement"...biggest sports thrill was winning junior national championships because she says she had worked so hard and her hard work had finally paid off....says she loves the outdoors...communications major.