PEDIGREE: This week’s Pioneer Focus goes to sophomore swimmer Emily Duncan for her efforts this season and her achievements at the Appalachian Conference Championships Feb. 16-18.
At the conference championships meet, Duncan broke two records, both of which she set last season. On day one of the championships, Duncan was able to record a time of 2:18.01 in the 200 individual medley finals.
The time broke the record she set in the event earlier that morning (2:19.41), which broke a record she set as this meet last year. Her 2:18.01 mark set in the finals was good enough to earn her a sixth-place finish overall.
The other record she broke on the final day of the meet was in the finals of the 400 individual medley. In this race she earned a ninth-place finish with a time of 4:58.14. This record time broke the 5:00.64 mark she set last season.
Get to know English major and art minor Emily Duncan …

Sophomore swimmer Emily Duncan races across the C.T. Branin Natatorium pool in the Ohio Independent Championships on Nov. 5. In the 200 individual medley race she finished third overall with a time of 2:26.32. (Photo courtesy of Andy Smith)
Q: Favorite food?
A: Sushi
Q: Love, like or hate Michael Phelps?
A: I like him.
Q: How many gold medals do you think Michael Phelps will win this summer in London?
A: All of them. Actually, I’m kind of hoping for an upset with some new swimmer, simply because that would be dramatic.
Q: Biggest superstition?
A: Knock on wood, always.
Q: Scripted or Reality TV?
A: Scripted TV as long as it is a well written script.
Q: How and who started you swimming?
A: I could swim and not drown when I took swimming lessons, so somehow that led to joining the swim team. And my mom encouraged me to do it.
Q: What is your favorite fast food outlet?
A: Arby’s
Q: What is the best and worst part of college athletics?
A: The best part is being a part of a team. The worst is sacrificing a whole lot of free time.
Q: Facebook or Twitter?
A: Twitter
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Hopefully in ten years I’ll have books published and will be traveling and/or living in a country that is decidedly Scandinavian.
Chris Sherwood is sports editor for The Aviso AVW.
Categories: Sports