2018 W. NCAAs: Simone Manuel Defends 50 Free Title

2018 WOMEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, March 14th – Saturday, March 17th
• McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion — Columbus, OH
• Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
• Defending Champion: Stanford (results)
• Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday Prelims & Finals, Friday/Saturday Prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPNU
• Championship Central
• Event-by-Event Previews
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Thursday Finals Heat Sheet

Stanford’s Simone Manuel defended her 50 free title Thursday night, good for the 3rd-fastest performance in history.

Manuel split 10.30/10.88 for a final time of 21.18, just off her best of 21.17, the 2nd fastest swim in history (and the NCAA record). She was .33 ahead of second-place Erika Brown (21.51), who was followed by Liz Li in 21.51. American record holder Abbey Weitzeil was fourth in 21.67.

Manuel was 21.42 on her American record-setting 200 free relay split Thursday morning and 20.89 on her American and NCAA record-setting relay at night. She now owns four of the top 10 performances of all time.

Top 10 All-Time Performances: 50 freestyle

1. Abbey Weitzeil 21.12
2. Simone Manuel 21.17
3. Simone Manuel 21.18
4. Simone Manuel 21.20
5. Olivia Smoliga 21.21
6. Lara Jackson 21.27
7. Abbey Weitzeil 21.28 (T-6)
8. Liz Li 21.28 (T-6)
9. Liz Li 21.29 (T-8)
10. Simone Manuel 21.29 (T-8)

Top 10 All-Time Performers: 50 freestyle

1. Abbey Weitzeil 21.12
2. Simone Manuel 21.17
3. Olivia Smoliga 21.21
4. Lara Jackson 21.27
5. Liz Li 21.28
6. Farida Osman 21.32
7. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace 21.34
8. Erika Brown 21.39
9. Natalie Coughlin 21.48 (T-9)
10. Caroline Baldwin 21.48 (T-9)
11. Liv Jensen 21.48 (T-9)