Stanford Wins First DI NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Title Since 1998

stanford-champions, ncaa division i swimming
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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The Stanford women’s team won its first NCAA women’s title since 1998 on Saturday night at the 2017 Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. The Cardinal won the meet with 526.5 points, winning 9 of the 21 events on the weekend. California finished comfortably in second with 366 points. Texas A&M had the highest finish in school history with 292.5 points. Georgia out swam Texas for fourth with 252.5 points to Texas’ 252.

Here is how the team scores ended up.

 Combined Team Scores - Through Event 21                      
 
  1. Stanford                        526.5   2. California                        366
  3. Texas A&M                       292.5   4. Georgia                         252.5
  5. Texas                             252   6. Louisville                      194.5
  7. NC State                          194   8. Indiana                           185
  9. Southern Cali                     176  10. Minnesota                         168
 11. Michigan                          159  12. Virginia                          149
 13. Missouri                          135  14. Kentucky                          106
 15. Wisconsin                          98  16. Arizona                          89.5
 17. UNC                                73  18. Auburn                             55
 19. Ohio St                            52  20. UCLA                               48
 21. Northwestern                       40  22. Tennessee                          35
 23. Purdue                             33  24. Umbc (W)                           30
 25. Miami (Oh)                         29  26. Iowa                               26
 27. Nevada                             25  28. Florida St                         24
 29. Arizona St                         22  30. Denver                             20
 31. Virginia Tech                      18  32. Florida Int'l                      16
 33. Nebraska                           15  34. Lsu                                14
 35. Cincinnati                         12  36. Boise St                           10
 36. Penn St                            10  38. South Carolina                      8
 39. Miami (Fl)                          5  39. Air Force (W)                       5
 41. Pittsburgh                          4  41. Florida Gulf                        4
 43. Alabama                           3.5  44. Notre Dame                          2
 44. San Diego State University          2  44. Massachusetts                       2
 47. Duke                                1  47. Drexel                              1
 47. Rutgers                             1

1650 Free

There was a lot of hype over how fast Katie Ledecky could go in the 1650 Saturday night. After her stellar 4:24 in the 500 on Thursday night, there was talk Ledecky could break 15 minutes, there were even rumors she could qualify for the men’s NCAA’s with a 14:56. After gunning the first 500 at 4:32, a time that would have placed third in the 500, Ledecky fell off the pace over the back half and slipped to a 15:07.70, still the second fastest 1650 in history.

Leah Smith of Virginia was the only swimmer to not get lapped by Ledecky in the race as she finished second at 15:28.89. Stanford picked up some huge points in that even with freshman Megan Byrnes placing third at 15:50.87 and sophomore Leah Stevens was fourth from the earlier heats at 15:52.36. NC State’s Hannah Moore, Wisconsin’s Danielle Valley, Texas’ Joanna Evans and Auburn’s Ashley Neidigh finished in the top eight.

The win gave Stanford its sixth NCAA title in the 1650. Ledecky joins Janet Evans (1991, 1990) and Marybeth Linzmeier (1982-1984) as winners for the Cardinal. Stanford extended its lead over Cal and Texas A&M. Texas is now 10 points ahead of Georgia for fifth.

 Event 15  Women 1650 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 15:03.92  11/20/2016Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         Meet: C 15:27.84  3/22/2014 Brittany MacLean, Georgia
     American: A 15:03.92  11/20/2016Katie Ledecky, Stanford
    U.S. Open: O 15:03.92  11/20/2016Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         Pool: P 15:45.98            Haley Anderson, Souther Cal
    Name           Year School               Seed     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
  1 Katie Ledecky    FR Stanford         15:03.92   15:07.70C        20  
    r:+0.66  25.24        52.23 (26.99)
        1:19.49 (27.26)     1:47.10 (27.61)
        2:14.50 (27.40)     2:42.06 (27.56)
        3:09.66 (27.60)     3:37.14 (27.48)
        4:04.69 (27.55)     4:32.10 (27.41)
        4:59.35 (27.25)     5:26.59 (27.24)
        5:53.90 (27.31)     6:21.21 (27.31)
        6:48.69 (27.48)     7:16.25 (27.56)
        7:43.82 (27.57)     8:11.32 (27.50)
        8:38.99 (27.67)     9:06.90 (27.91)
        9:34.70 (27.80)    10:02.45 (27.75)
       10:30.62 (28.17)    10:58.72 (28.10)
       11:26.71 (27.99)    11:54.80 (28.09)
       12:22.72 (27.92)    12:50.89 (28.17)
       13:18.63 (27.74)    13:46.45 (27.82)
       14:14.23 (27.78)    14:41.82 (27.59)    15:07.70 (25.88)
  2 Leah Smith       SR Virginia         15:31.49   15:28.89P        17  
    r:+0.73  25.76        53.54 (27.78)
        1:21.56 (28.02)     1:49.81 (28.25)
        2:18.10 (28.29)     2:46.44 (28.34)
        3:14.60 (28.16)     3:42.86 (28.26)
        4:11.04 (28.18)     4:39.31 (28.27)
        5:07.35 (28.04)     5:35.57 (28.22)
        6:03.75 (28.18)     6:32.00 (28.25)
        7:00.38 (28.38)     7:28.83 (28.45)
        7:57.16 (28.33)     8:25.50 (28.34)
        8:53.93 (28.43)     9:22.48 (28.55)
        9:50.91 (28.43)    10:19.32 (28.41)
       10:47.76 (28.44)    11:16.13 (28.37)
       11:44.57 (28.44)    12:13.15 (28.58)
       12:41.68 (28.53)    13:10.31 (28.63)
       13:38.79 (28.48)    14:07.13 (28.34)
       14:35.01 (27.88)    15:02.02 (27.01)    15:28.89 (26.87)
  3 Megan Byrnes     FR Stanford         15:47.62   15:50.87         16  
    r:+0.75  27.27        56.02 (28.75)
        1:24.99 (28.97)     1:54.01 (29.02)
        2:22.98 (28.97)     2:52.13 (29.15)
        3:21.12 (28.99)     3:50.11 (28.99)
        4:19.10 (28.99)     4:48.25 (29.15)
        5:17.22 (28.97)     5:46.10 (28.88)
        6:15.14 (29.04)     6:44.15 (29.01)
        7:13.01 (28.86)     7:41.90 (28.89)
        8:10.97 (29.07)     8:39.68 (28.71)
        9:08.76 (29.08)     9:37.89 (29.13)
       10:06.66 (28.77)    10:35.49 (28.83)
       11:04.42 (28.93)    11:33.14 (28.72)
       12:01.97 (28.83)    12:30.81 (28.84)
       12:59.80 (28.99)    13:28.63 (28.83)
       13:57.42 (28.79)    14:26.27 (28.85)
       14:54.96 (28.69)    15:23.43 (28.47)    15:50.87 (27.44)
  4 Leah Stevens     SO Stanford         15:57.87   15:52.36         15  
    r:+0.66  26.67        55.84 (29.17)
        1:25.44 (29.60)     1:54.92 (29.48)
        2:24.31 (29.39)     2:53.77 (29.46)
        3:23.02 (29.25)     3:52.35 (29.33)
        4:21.70 (29.35)     4:50.83 (29.13)
        5:19.79 (28.96)     5:48.85 (29.06)
        6:17.85 (29.00)     6:46.77 (28.92)
        7:15.63 (28.86)     7:44.66 (29.03)
        8:13.50 (28.84)     8:42.36 (28.86)
        9:11.00 (28.64)     9:39.73 (28.73)
       10:08.31 (28.58)    10:37.22 (28.91)
       11:06.05 (28.83)    11:34.85 (28.80)
       12:03.90 (29.05)    12:32.92 (29.02)
       13:01.61 (28.69)    13:30.22 (28.61)
       13:58.86 (28.64)    14:27.34 (28.48)
       14:55.75 (28.41)    15:23.86 (28.11)    15:52.36 (28.50)
  5 Hannah Moore     JR NC STATE         16:00.23   15:52.75         14  
    r:+0.70  26.59        55.26 (28.67)
        1:24.19 (28.93)     1:53.33 (29.14)
        2:22.43 (29.10)     2:51.55 (29.12)
        3:20.79 (29.24)     3:49.91 (29.12)
        4:19.05 (29.14)     4:48.07 (29.02)
        5:17.12 (29.05)     5:46.14 (29.02)
        6:15.15 (29.01)     6:44.14 (28.99)
        7:13.06 (28.92)     7:42.20 (29.14)
        8:11.27 (29.07)     8:40.33 (29.06)
        9:09.39 (29.06)     9:38.49 (29.10)
       10:07.72 (29.23)    10:36.86 (29.14)
       11:06.00 (29.14)    11:35.10 (29.10)
       12:04.06 (28.96)    12:33.06 (29.00)
       13:02.05 (28.99)    13:30.71 (28.66)
       13:59.64 (28.93)    14:28.50 (28.86)
       14:57.12 (28.62)    15:25.45 (28.33)    15:52.75 (27.30)
  6 Danielle Valley  SR Wisconsin        15:53.16   15:53.22         13  
    r:+0.75  26.88        55.39 (28.51)
        1:24.25 (28.86)     1:52.94 (28.69)
        2:21.91 (28.97)     2:51.16 (29.25)
        3:20.28 (29.12)     3:49.23 (28.95)
        4:18.11 (28.88)     4:46.89 (28.78)
        5:15.88 (28.99)     5:44.95 (29.07)
        6:14.03 (29.08)     6:43.24 (29.21)
        7:12.34 (29.10)     7:41.31 (28.97)
        8:10.44 (29.13)     8:39.54 (29.10)
        9:08.52 (28.98)     9:37.47 (28.95)
       10:06.64 (29.17)    10:35.91 (29.27)
       11:04.95 (29.04)    11:34.27 (29.32)
       12:03.36 (29.09)    12:32.39 (29.03)
       13:01.37 (28.98)    13:30.39 (29.02)
       13:59.32 (28.93)    14:28.41 (29.09)
       14:57.57 (29.16)    15:26.02 (28.45)    15:53.22 (27.20)
  7 Joanna Evans     SO Texas            16:05.11   15:54.46         12  
    r:+0.75  26.34        55.16 (28.82)
        1:24.28 (29.12)     1:53.63 (29.35)
        2:22.85 (29.22)     2:52.21 (29.36)
        3:21.18 (28.97)     3:50.28 (29.10)
        4:19.57 (29.29)     4:48.69 (29.12)
        5:17.49 (28.80)     5:46.88 (29.39)
        6:15.83 (28.95)     6:44.98 (29.15)
        7:14.04 (29.06)     7:43.11 (29.07)
        8:12.06 (28.95)     8:41.03 (28.97)
        9:09.76 (28.73)     9:38.33 (28.57)
       10:06.96 (28.63)    10:35.60 (28.64)
       11:04.17 (28.57)    11:32.84 (28.67)
       12:01.57 (28.73)    12:30.59 (29.02)
       13:00.00 (29.41)    13:29.71 (29.71)
       13:59.29 (29.58)    14:28.30 (29.01)
       14:57.61 (29.31)    15:26.55 (28.94)    15:54.46 (27.91)
  8 Ashley Neidigh   SR Auburn           15:56.95   15:54.88         11  
    r:+0.81  26.91        55.64 (28.73)
        1:24.59 (28.95)     1:53.66 (29.07)
        2:22.68 (29.02)     2:51.52 (28.84)
        3:20.52 (29.00)     3:49.53 (29.01)
        4:18.52 (28.99)     4:47.58 (29.06)
        5:16.49 (28.91)     5:45.58 (29.09)
        6:14.65 (29.07)     6:43.59 (28.94)
        7:12.51 (28.92)     7:41.41 (28.90)
        8:10.24 (28.83)     8:39.17 (28.93)
        9:08.22 (29.05)     9:37.44 (29.22)
       10:06.44 (29.00)    10:35.32 (28.88)
       11:04.49 (29.17)    11:33.60 (29.11)
       12:02.68 (29.08)    12:31.87 (29.19)
       13:00.99 (29.12)    13:30.09 (29.10)
       13:59.07 (28.98)    14:28.13 (29.06)
       14:57.20 (29.07)    15:26.34 (29.14)    15:54.88 (28.54)

200 Back

Kathleen Baker won her third event of the meet in the 200 backstroke on Saturday night at the NCAA DI Championships. Baker had already won the 200 IM and 100 backstroke and finished the trifecta with a win in the 200 at 1:48.44. The Olympic silver medalist in the 100 missed Elizabeth Pelton’s NCAA, American and US Open record from 2013 that was a 1:47.84.

NC State senior Alexia Zevnik placed second after pushing Baker the whole way at 1:49.09. Zevnik is now fifth all time in the event. Kentucky freshman Asia Seidt placed third at 1:49.63 and is now 9th all time. Kentucky had two other swimmers in the A-final with Danielle and Ali Galyer placing fifth and eighth. Kentucky also had Bridgette Alexander place 13th in the consolation final for a whopping total of 45 points, putting them in 13th place. Tasija Karosas of Texas, Clara Smiddy of Michigan and Kennedy Goss of Indiana also placed in the top eight.

California has now won seven NCAA titles in the 200 back. Baker joins Missy Franklin (2015), Pelton (2013), Helen Silver (2006) and Natalie Coughlin (2001-2003) as 200 back winners for the Golden Bears.

 Event 16  Women 200 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:47.84  3/21/2013 Elizabeth Pelton, California
         Meet: C 1:47.84  3/23/2013 Elizabeth Pelton, California
     American: A 1:47.84  3/21/2013 Elizabeth Pelton, California
    U.S. Open: O 1:47.84  3/21/2013 Elizabeth Pelton, California
         Pool: P 1:47.84            Elizbeth Pelton, California
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Kathleen Baker   SO California        1:49.96    1:48.44         20  
    r:+0.62  25.59        53.22 (27.63)
        1:20.87 (27.65)     1:48.44 (27.57)
  2 Alexia Zevnik    SR NC STATE          1:49.71    1:49.09         17  
    r:+0.57  25.78        53.48 (27.70)
        1:21.52 (28.04)     1:49.09 (27.57)
  3 Asia Seidt       FR Kentucky          1:50.86    1:49.63         16  
    r:+0.59  26.09        53.78 (27.69)
        1:21.56 (27.78)     1:49.63 (28.07)
  4 Tasija Karosas   SR Texas             1:50.85    1:49.91         15  
    r:+0.63  26.20        53.87 (27.67)
        1:21.70 (27.83)     1:49.91 (28.21)
  5 Danielle Galyer  SR Kentucky          1:49.73    1:50.49         14  
    r:+0.54  26.08        53.93 (27.85)
        1:22.35 (28.42)     1:50.49 (28.14)
  6 Clara Smiddy     JR Michigan          1:50.86    1:50.71         13  
    r:+0.61  26.22        54.10 (27.88)
        1:22.33 (28.23)     1:50.71 (28.38)
  7 Kennedy Goss     JR Indiana           1:50.62    1:50.94         12  
    r:+0.72  26.49        54.53 (28.04)
        1:22.70 (28.17)     1:50.94 (28.24)
  8 Ali Galyer       FR Kentucky          1:50.53    1:51.05         11  
    r:+0.66  26.17        54.23 (28.06)
        1:22.77 (28.54)     1:51.05 (28.28)

100 Free

Simone Manuel obliterated all of the records in the 100 free, proving why she is the Olympic champion in the event, initiating a “boom-shocka-locka” from PA Announcer Sam Kendricks. Manuel, out in 21.9, won the event she last won in 2015 her freshman year in a 45.56, way under her 46.09 from two years ago. Manuel became the first swimmer to swim under 46 in the event. Georgia senior Olivia Smoliga finished second in the event and is now the third fastest performer in history with a 46.30. Louisville’s Mallory Comerford moved to fourth all time in the event with a 46.35. Stanford senior Lia Neal was fourth with a 46.76, moving her to seventh all time in the event.

Cal’s Farida Osman, Texas A&M’s Beryl Gastaldello, Georgia’s Chantal Van Landeghem and Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil also swam in the final. Georgia pulled within 4.5 points of fourth place Texas.

Stanford now has nine wins in the 100 free, breaking the tie with Georgia. Manuel joins herself (15), Claudia Franco (96), Jenny Thompson (92-95) and Jenna Johnson (86, 87) as winners for the Cardinal in the event.

 Event 17  Women 100 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 46.09  3/21/2015 Simone Manuel, Stanford
         Meet: C 46.09  3/21/2015 Simone Manuel, Stanford
     American: A 46.09  3/21/2015 Simone Manuel, Stanford
    U.S. Open: O 46.09  3/21/2015 Simone Manuel, Stanford
         Pool: P 47.17            Margo Geer, Arizona
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Simone Manuel    SO Stanford            46.30      45.56N  199   20  
    r:+0.65  21.90        45.56 (23.66)
  2 Olivia Smoliga   SR Georgia             46.87      46.30P  191   17  
    r:+0.70  22.24        46.30 (24.06)
  3 Mallory Comerfo  SO Louisville          46.89      46.35P  190   16  
    r:+0.63  22.41        46.35 (23.94)
  4 Lia Neal         SR Stanford            47.22      46.76P  186   15  
    r:+0.66  22.56        46.76 (24.20)
  5 Farida Osman     SR California          47.18      47.07P  182   14  
    r:+0.67  22.56        47.07 (24.51)
  6 Chantal Van Lan  SR Georgia             47.37      47.54   177   12.5
    r:+0.73  22.85        47.54 (24.69)
  6 Beryl Gastaldel  JR TAMU                47.34      47.54   177   12.5
    r:+0.63  22.94        47.54 (24.60)
  8 Abbey Weitzeil   FR California          47.28      47.79   174   11  
    r:+0.62  22.54        47.79 (25.25)

200 Breast

We knew it was going to be the tale of two races. We knew Indiana sophomore Lilly King would take it out fast at the 100, and we knew Minnesota senior Kierra Smith would come home strong on the back half. King took it out and held on the hard charging Smith for a new NCAA, American and US Open record in the 200 breast with a 2:03.18 to Smith’s 2:03.55. Those two are now the two fastest performers in history as the only swimmers to swim under 2:04.

Lost in the race was a strong performance from UMBC senior Emily Escobedo at 2:05.20. Escobedo is now eighth all time in the event. Sydney Pickrem of Texas A&M finished in fourth and is now ninth all time in the event. NC State’s Kayla Brumbaum, Texas’ Madisyn Cox, Texas A&M’s Ashley McGregor and Louisville’s Andrea Cottrell also swam in the A-final.

King defends her title from last year as she is still the first Indiana Hoosier to win the 200 breast NCAA title. King is now the first swimmer since USC’s Rebecca Soni to defend the NCAA title when Soni won four titles from 2006 to 2009. King has also not lost an NCAA championship final.

 Event 18  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 2:03.59  3/19/2016 Lilly King, Indiana
         Meet: C 2:03.59  3/19/2016 Lilly King, Indiana
     American: A 2:03.59  3/19/2016 Lilly King, Indiana
    U.S. Open: O 2:03.59  3/19/2016 Lilly King, Indiana
         Pool: P 2:05.41            Laura Sogar, Texas
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Lilly King       SO Indiana           2:05.90    2:03.18N        20  
    r:+0.65  27.13        58.32 (31.19)
        1:30.85 (32.53)     2:03.18 (32.33)
  2 Kierra Smith     SR Minnesota         2:05.50    2:03.55N        17  
    r:+0.75  28.17        59.79 (31.62)
        1:31.54 (31.75)     2:03.55 (32.01)
  3 Emily Escobedo   SR UMBC (W)          2:05.72    2:05.20P        16  
    r:+0.67  28.38        59.79 (31.41)
        1:32.19 (32.40)     2:05.20 (33.01)
  4 Sydney Pickrem   SO TAMU              2:05.69    2:05.23P        15  
    r:+0.68  28.90      1:01.43 (32.53)
        1:32.78 (31.35)     2:05.23 (32.45)
  5 Kayla Brumbaum   SR NC STATE          2:06.23    2:05.55         14  
    r:+0.70  28.45      1:00.32 (31.87)
        1:32.47 (32.15)     2:05.55 (33.08)
  6 Madisyn Cox      SR Texas             2:06.45    2:05.77         13  
    r:+0.75  28.85      1:00.58 (31.73)
        1:32.77 (32.19)     2:05.77 (33.00)
  7 Ashley McGregor  SR TAMU              2:06.86    2:06.99         12  
    r:+0.70  28.71      1:00.64 (31.93)
        1:33.43 (32.79)     2:06.99 (33.56)
  8 Andrea Cottrell  SR Louisville        2:07.45    2:08.15         11  
    r:+0.64  28.68      1:00.99 (32.31)
        1:33.92 (32.93)     2:08.15 (34.23)

200 Fly

Stanford sophomore Ella Eastin won her second event of the meet in the 200 fly after she won the 400 IM last night. Eastin got some pressure early from early leader Katie McLaughlin of California. Eastin won the race thanks to a strong last turn at 1:51.35. McLaughlin was second at 1:52.37 and is now tied for 11th all time in the 200 fly with fellow Golden Bear Dana Vollmer. Virginia got big points from Jen Marrkand and Kaitlyn Jones finishing third and fourth at 1:53.15 and 1:53.19 respectively.

Texas also had some big points in that race, but sophomore Remedy Rule ended up disqualified for a 15m violation after originally placing third. Maddie Wright, Lauren Case and Sarah Gibson also swam in the A-final. The team race got a little bit more interesting as Texas is only 15.5 points ahead of Georgia for fifth place. Neither team will score points in diving, so barring a relay disqualification from Georgia, they will pass Texas for fourth place. The Longhorns did not place in the top eight in the last relay and Georgia is the top seed there.

This was Stanford’s 11th overall win in the 200 fly, the most of any school by far. Eastin joins Elaine Breeden (10, 09, 07), Shelly Ripple (02), Misty Hyman (01, 98), Janel Jorgensen (93, 90) and Summer Sanders (92, 91) as winners for the Cardinal in the event.

Event 19  Women 200 Yard Butterfly
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:49.92  2/25/2009 Elaine Breeden, Stanford
         Meet: C 1:50.61  3/19/2016 Kelsi Worrell, Louisville
     American: A 1:49.92  2/25/2009 Elaine Breeden, Stanford
    U.S. Open: O 1:49.92  2/25/2009 Elaine Breeden, Stanford
         Pool: P 1:52.61            Camille Adams, Texas A&M
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Ella Eastin      SO Stanford          1:52.58    1:51.35P        20  
    r:+0.69  25.18        53.82 (28.64)
        1:22.65 (28.83)     1:51.35 (28.70)
  2 Katie McLaughli  SO California        1:53.92    1:52.37P        17  
    r:+0.71  24.90        53.49 (28.59)
        1:22.38 (28.89)     1:52.37 (29.99)
  3 Jen Marrkand     JR Virginia          1:54.12    1:53.15         16  
    r:+0.62  25.71        54.61 (28.90)
        1:23.64 (29.03)     1:53.15 (29.51)
  4 Kaitlyn Jones    SR Virginia          1:52.93    1:53.19         15  
    r:+0.64  26.25        54.73 (28.48)
        1:23.60 (28.87)     1:53.19 (29.59)
  5 Maddie Wright    SO Southern Cali     1:54.41    1:53.39         14  
    r:+0.73  25.53        54.66 (29.13)
        1:24.46 (29.80)     1:53.39 (28.93)
  6 Lauren Case      FR Texas             1:53.44    1:54.05         13  
    r:+0.70  25.93        54.82 (28.89)
        1:24.30 (29.48)     1:54.05 (29.75)
  7 Sarah Gibson     SR TAMU              1:53.32    1:54.68         12  
    r:+0.71  26.08        55.13 (29.05)
        1:24.97 (29.84)     1:54.68 (29.71)
 -- Remedy Rule      SO Texas             1:54.34         DQ        
      Head did not break the surface by 15 meters
    r:+0.69  25.11        53.84 (28.73)
        1:22.58 (28.74)          DQ (30.34)

400 Free Relay

One year ago at this meet, Stanford left the 400 free relay in dismay. The team finished in fourth place, not gaining enough points to overtake Georgia. They sat and watched as the Bulldogs celebrated their national title. This time around in 2017, Stanford is the one celebrating with a national title as they won the 400 free relay in a new American, NCAA and US Open record with a 3:07.61. Simone Manuel (46.02), Katie Ledecky (47.59), Janet Hu (47.63) and Lia Neal (46.37) swam on the relay that broke their own record from the Pac-12 Championships last month. Stanford has won its first national title in women’s swimming and diving since 1998.

Georgia swam to second place in the relay at 3:08.97 with Olivia Smoliga (46.70), Veronica Burchill (47.42), Meaghan Raab (48.12) and Chantal Van Landeghem (46.73), solidifying their fourth place position by a half point over Texas. The Longhorns ended up winning the B-final and needed Georgia to place third or worse if they were going to finish in the top four overall for the first time since 2001. But alas, Georgia ended up second and the Bulldogs have place in the top four for seven straight years now.

California finished in third with a valiant 3:09.08. NC State, Louisville, Wisconsin and Texas A&M also placed in the top eight. Texas A&M placed third in the meet overall for the highest finish in school history.

This is the 12th time Stanford has won the 400 free relay. The Cardinal joined the teams from 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992, 1987 and 1982 as champions in that relay.

Event 21  Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 3:08.51  2/25/2017 Stanford
                          S Manuel, K Ledecky, J Hu, L Neal
         Meet: C 3:08.54  3/21/2015 Stanford
                          L Neal, J Hu, L Engel, S Manuel
     American: A 3:08.51  2/25/2017 Stanford
                          S Manuel, K Ledecky, J Hu, L Neal
    U.S. Open: O 3:08.51  2/25/2017 Stanford
                          S Manuel, K Ledecky, J Hu, L Neal
         Pool: P 3:09.40            Georgia
    School                        Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
==================================================================================
                                === A - Final ===                                 
 
  1 Stanford                      3:10.83    3:07.61N  600   40  
     1) Simone Manuel SO              2) r:0.35 Katie Ledecky FR      
     3) r:0.27 Janet Hu JR            4) r:0.31 Lia Neal SR           
    r:+0.69  22.18        46.02 (46.02)
        1:08.89 (22.87)     1:33.61 (47.59)
        1:56.21 (22.60)     2:21.24 (47.63)
        2:43.44 (22.20)     3:07.61 (46.37)
  2 Georgia                       3:10.54    3:08.97P  588   34  
     1) Olivia Smoliga SR             2) r:0.19 Veronica Burchill FR  
     3) r:0.29 Meaghan Raab JR        4) r:0.26 Chantal Van Langhem SR
    r:+0.72  22.22        46.70 (46.70)
        1:09.06 (22.36)     1:34.12 (47.42)
        1:57.14 (23.02)     2:22.24 (48.12)
        2:44.54 (22.30)     3:08.97 (46.73)
  3 California                    3:11.75    3:09.08P  588   32  
     1) Amy Bilquist SO               2) r:0.48 Kathleen Baker SO     
     3) r:0.25 Abbey Weitzeil FR      4) r:0.27 Farida Osman SR       
    r:+0.72  22.72        47.55 (47.55)
        1:10.33 (22.78)     1:35.27 (47.72)
        1:57.45 (22.18)     2:22.20 (46.93)
        2:44.38 (22.18)     3:09.08 (46.88)
  4 Southern Cali                 3:11.28    3:10.07   579   30  
     1) Louise Hansson FR             2) r:0.23 Kirsten Vose SO       
     3) r:0.11 Stanzi Moseley FR      4) r:0.17 Anika Apostalon SR    
    r:+0.73  22.65        47.07 (47.07)
        1:09.65 (22.58)     1:34.79 (47.72)
        1:57.30 (22.51)     2:22.90 (48.11)
        2:44.95 (22.05)     3:10.07 (47.17)
  5 NC STATE                      3:11.56    3:10.31   579   28  
     1) Alexia Zevnik SR              2) r:0.21 Ky-lee Perry FR       
     3) r:0.18 Lotta Nevalainen SR    4) r:0.29 Courtney Caldwell SO  
    r:+0.71  23.28        47.79 (47.79)
        1:09.91 (22.12)     1:35.25 (47.46)
        1:57.89 (22.64)     2:23.17 (47.92)
        2:45.65 (22.48)     3:10.31 (47.14)
  6 Louisville                    3:12.61    3:11.97   564   26  
     1) Lainey Visscher FR            2) r:0.30 Mallory Comerford SO  
     3) r:0.26 Casey Fanz FR          4) r:0.31 Nastja Govejsek FR    
    r:+0.62  23.07        48.24 (48.24)
        1:10.38 (22.14)     1:34.62 (46.38)
        1:57.68 (23.06)     2:23.13 (48.51)
        2:46.16 (23.03)     3:11.97 (48.84)
  7 Wisconsin                     3:12.91    3:12.94   555   24  
     1) Chase Kinney SR               2) r:0.03 Emmy Sehmann SO       
     3) r:0.32 Marissa Berg JR        4) r:0.19 Cierra Runge SO       
    r:+0.71  23.00        48.48 (48.48)
        1:10.85 (22.37)     1:36.20 (47.72)
        1:59.59 (23.39)     2:24.96 (48.76)
        2:48.08 (23.12)     3:12.94 (47.98)
  8 TAMU                          3:12.43    3:13.32   552   22  
     1) Beryl Gastaldello JR          2) r:0.37 Kristin Malone JR     
     3) r:0.44 Claire Rasmus SO       4) r:0.31 Sarah Gibson SR       
    r:+0.64  22.99        47.83 (47.83)
        1:10.87 (23.04)     1:36.26 (48.43)
        2:00.08 (23.82)     2:25.44 (49.18)
        2:48.35 (22.91)     3:13.32 (47.88)
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Peter Csaba Szekely Senior
Peter Csaba Szekely Senior
7 years ago

Awesome!
Great photo, Les and Jeannie middle left hand side; funny Les is taking a picture of the photographer ha ha???‍♀️??‍♀️

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Thomas A. Small
Thomas A. Small
7 years ago

Congratulations

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