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Four-time All-American
Career Bests: 200 free (1:47.00); 500 free (4.45.39); 200 IM (2:02.00); 400 IM (4:14.45); 200 fly (2:00.82)
Began her comeback last season from a back injury that forced her to miss the 1998-99 campaign ... Regaining her national level form and hoping for a big season ... A versatile swimmer who will be counted upon in the 200 and 500 free, the 400 IM and possibly in the 200 fly ... Could be a key to the team and is a leader for the squad, especially in the 200 free ... A real strong finisher who has a knack for winning close races ... Ranks fifth in Stanford history in the 400 IM (4:14.45) ... Ranks 53rd in the world in the 25m pool short course rankings for the 400m free (4:12.12) and 104th in the world in the 50m pool long course rankings for the 200m free (2:02.84) ... In the final 1996 world rankings, was 14th in the 800m free, 22nd in the 400m free and 29th in the 200m free.
As a Junior in 1999-2000: Returned after missing the previous season with a back injury ... Earned her fourth career All-American honor by placing 14th in the 400m free (4:12.12) ... Also finished 35th in the 200m free (2:02.06 trials) at the NCAA's ... Had a nice performance at the Pac-10 Championships, finishing second in the 200 free (1:47.25) and fourth in the 400 free (4:47.54), while placing 12th in the 200 fly (2:01.97) ... Also swam the anchor leg (1:47.52) on Stanford's Pac-10 champion 800 free relay squad (7:10.59) that set a new Pac-10 meet record.
As a Sophomore in 1998-1999: Redshirted due to a back injury.
As a Freshman in 1997-1998: A three-time All-American as a freshman ... Won the consolation final in the 400 IM (4:14.65) for ninth place, although she posted the fifth-fastest time ... Placed 12th in the 500 free (4:46.36) and 34th in the 200 fly (2:03.83) ... Swam the third leg of the third-place 800 free relay team (1:48.16 split) at NCAA's as well ... Finished fourth in the 500 free (4:45.49) and 400 IM (4:15.31) and seventh in the 200 fly (2:00.82) at the Pac-10's ... Also led Stanford to the Pac-10 800 free relay title (7:12.14) ... Set a meet record in winning the 400 IM (4:18.37) at the SMU Classic, and also won the 500 free (4:51.87) ... Established a pool record en route to the 400 IM (4:20.57) title at the Northwestern Invitational and was also second in the 500 free (4:53.65).
National/International Competition: Gold Medallist in the 800m free relay at the 1997 World University Games in Sicily, Italy ... Won the 200m freestyle at the 1996 Phillips 66 Summer Nationals ... Finished eighth in the 200m free at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials ... Member of 1996 U.S. Swimming National B Team and the 1995 A Team ... Double-winner in the 100m and 200m free at the 1995 Spring Nationals ... Placed eighth in the 200 free at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials ... Won four events as a member of the 1995 U.S. Junior National Team that competed in Paris, France.
High School: Five-time Oregon state high school champion, including two titles each in both the 200 free and 500 free ... All-American at Lincoln High School in 1996 and 1997 ... Voted Most Valuable three times by her teammates ... Ranked as the nation's #1 Scholar-Athlete in 1996 ... Set new state records for Oregon in the 200 and 500 free at the 1997 state meet ... Also the state champion in the 200 and 500 free in 1995 ... High school squad placed second at the state meet in 1997 ... Coached by Doug Morten.
Club: Swims for Multnomah Athletic Club ... Coached by Skip Runkle.
Personal: History major ... Daughter of Kent and Pamela Thies ... Semi-fluent in Russian ... Hobbies include reading, drawing, hiking andbeing outdoors.
Coaching Staff on Thies: "Lauren Thies could have a tremendous positive effect on this team. We expect Lauren to return to her form that she had her freshman year after an opportunity to completely recover from her back injury. She had a very good summer last year and is currently training at a very high level. We're hoping for an injury free season. If Lauren regains her previous form by recuperating further from her injury, she'll be formidable in her events and can score in the top eight in the NCAA's in three events. She could play a huge role in a turnaround for this team."