2018 Women’s NCAA Championships: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2018 WOMEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

We’re on to the finals prelims session on day 4 of the 2018 Women’s NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Swimmers will compete individually in the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly this morning, with the 400 free relay coming at the end of the session. The 1650 free will also take place today. The fastest heat will swim with finals, while the rest of the heats will swim later this afternoon.

Stanford’s Ella Eastin is looking for a perfect 3-for-3 in both NCAA titles and American Records here. She’ll be swimming in the 200 fly towards the end of the session. After her dominant IM performances, Eastin looks like she has a pretty high ceiling here. We could see a sub-1:49 100 fly tonight. She’s already set the American Record this season with a 1:49.51 at Pac-12s. This morning’s 100 free will set up a showdown between Stanford’s reigning champ Simone Manuel and Louisville’s Mallory Comerford. Indiana’s American Record holder and reigning champ Lilly King will take on the 200 breast. Cal’s Kathleen Baker, the 2017 champion, will swim the 200 back. That event will also feature Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson, Stanford’s 100 back champ Ally Howe, and Stanford’s Janet Hu.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK:

  • NCAA Record: Elizabeth Pelton (Cal), 2013, 1:47.84
  • American Record: Elizabeth Pelton (Cal), 2013, 1:47.84
  • Championship Record: Elizabeth Pelton (Cal), 2013, 1:47.84
  • 2017 Champion: Kathleen Baker (Cal), 1:48.44

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Beata Nelson, Wisconsin, 1:49.33
  2. Kathleen Baker, Cal, 1:49.57
  3. Asia Seidt, Kentucky, 1:49.64
  4. Janet Hu, Stanford, 1:50.13
  5. Ali Galyer, Kentucky, 1:50.16
  6. Clara Smiddy, Michigan, 1:50.82
  7. Kylie Stewart, Georgia, 1:51.07
  8. Lisa Bratton, Texas A&M, 1:51.18

Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson took control of heat 5 quickly, leading by a body length going into the last 50 yards. Nelson seemed to take it pretty smoothly down the final stretch, but still reached in for a lifetime best 1:49.33. She’s now the 6th fastest performer in history and looks like she has more in the tank for tonight.

Stanford’s Janet Hu was out in 53.01, under American Record pace, in heat 6. Hu shut it down on the back half, reaching in at 1:50.13 to hold off Michigan’s Clara Smiddy (1:50.82). Defending NCAA champ Kathleen Baker of Cal set the pace in the final heat, flipping well under record pace in 52.88. Kentucky’s Asia Seidt and Ali Galyer started to close in on her through the 150. At the finish, Baker clipped Seidt 1:49.57 to 1:49.64. That was just .01 shy of Seidt’s best. Galyer was closely behind in 1:50.16 as she dropped a few tenths.

NC State’s Elise Haan dropped a second from her lifetime best in 1:51.48 this morning. She came up just shy of the final at 9th, however, as Georgia’s Kylie Stewart and Texas A&M’s Lisa Bratton nabbed the 7th and 8th spots.

Texas’ Quinn Carrozza broke 1:53 for the first time to win heat 4, touching in 1:52.70 as she held off Arizona’s Cameron McHugh (1:53.33).

WOMEN’S 100 FREE:

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Mallory Comerford, Louisville, 46.88
  2. Simone Manuel, Stanford, 47.08
  3. Aly Tetzloff, Auburn, 47.17
  4. (T-4) Siobhan Haughey, Michigan, 47.28
  5. (T-4) Abbey Weitzeil, Cal, 47.28
  6. Erika Brown, Tennessee, 47.29
  7. Béryl Gastaldello, Texas A&M, 47.36
  8. Amy Bilquist, Cal, 47.45

Auburn’s Aly Tetzloff edged Stanford’s Simone Manuel for the early lead in the final heat, but Manuel battled back to take the win by less than a tenth in 47.08. Tetzloff’s 47.17 for 2nd was a best by a couple of tenths. Texas A&M’s Béryl Gastaldello had the fastest back half to take 3rd in 47.36.

Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey flipped in 22.69 to take the lead up front in heat 7, but Louisville’s Mallory Comerford took over on the back half to win in 46.88. Haughey was 2nd in 47.28, followed by Georgia’s Veronica Burchill (47.85). Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil flipped ahead in heat 8, holding off Tennessee’s Erika Brown by a hundredths at the finish, 47.28 to 47.29. Cal’s Amy Bilquist was 3rd there in 47.45. That took a tenth off Bilquist’s best.

Stanford’s Lauren Pitzer topped heat 5 in 48.20, dropping 4 tenths from her best. She led the way into the circle seeded heats.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST:

  • NCAA Record: Lilly King (Indiana), 2017, 2:03.18
  • American Record: Lilly King (Indiana), 2017, 2:03.18
  • Championship Record: Lilly King (Indiana), 2017, 2:03.18
  • 2017 Champion: Lilly King (Indiana), 2:03.18

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Lilly King, Indiana, 2:05.49
  2. Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M, 2:06.61
  3. Bethany Galat, Texas A&M, 2:07.10
  4. Bailey Bonnett, Kentucky, 2:07.68
  5. Lindsey Kozelsky, Minnesota, 2:07.75
  6. Miranda Tucker, Michigan, 2:07.85
  7. Anna Belousova, Texas A&M, 2:07.99
  8. Esther Gonzalez Medina, Texas A&M, 2:08.01

The Aggies will have 4 women in tonight’s final. Texas A&M’s Sydney Pickrem and Bethany Galat qualified out of the final heat, running down Minnesota’s Lindsey Kozelsky as all 3 landed top 8 spots. Another Aggie, Esther Gonzalez, took 4th in that heat and snuck into the final at 8th. Teammate Anna Belousova used her back-half speed to out-touch USC’s Maggie Aroesty and Arizona State’s Silja Kansakoski in heat 5.

Indiana’s reigning champ Lilly King led from start to finish in heat 6, turning in 59.76 halfway. King won by a body length in 2:05.49. She looked like she had shut it down a bit by the 3rd 50, but still led prelims by over a second. Former teammate Miranda Tucker, now of Michigan, came in behind her at 2:07.85.

South Carolina’s Emma Barksdale shaved over half a second from her best to dominate heat 1 in 2:10.16. Teammate Albury Higgs won heat 4 in a lifetime best 2:08.90, leading as we head into circle seeded heats. Eastern Michigan’s Delaney Duncan, a 100 breast finalist, was body lengths ahead in heat 2 with a 2:08.91. That was a best time by over 2 seconds. Cal’s Ali Harrison clipped her best time to win heat 3 in 2:10.21.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY:

  • NCAA Record: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018, 1:49.51
  • American Record: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018, 1:49.51
  • Championship Record: Elaine Breeden (Stanford), 2009, 1:49.92
  • 2017 Champion: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 1:51.35

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Ella Eastin, Stanford, 1:51.76
  2. Katie Drabot, Stanford, 1:52.33
  3. Megan Kingsley, Georgia, 1:53.14
  4. (T-4) Grace Oglesby, Louisville, 1:53.16
  5. (T-4) Katie McLaughlin, Cal, 1:53.16
  6. Maddie Wright, USC, 1:53.17
  7. Louise Hansson, USC, 1:53.28
  8. Vanessa Krause, Michigan, 1:53.31

Georgia’s Megan Kingsley had the lead up front in the final heat, turning in 53.88, but Stanford’s reigning champ Ella Eastin was just hundredths back. Eastin had taken over by half a second at the 150, holding steady into the finish for a 1:51.76. Kingsley was 2nd in 1:53.14, holding off a late charge from Louisville’s Grace Oglesby (1:53.16). Michigan’s Vanessa Krause clipped her best to grab a finals spot as she took 4th in that heat.

Stanford’s Katie Drabot rolled to a 1:52.33 to win heat 4, while Cal’s Katie McLaughlin (1:53.16) took 2nd from lane 1. USC’s Maddie Wright was just a hundredth back in 1:53.17. In heat 5, USC’s Louise Hansson was well under record pace with a 52.95 halfway. Virginia’s Jenn Marrkand started to close the gap on the 3rd 50, but ran out of room as Hansson touched in 1:53.28 to Marrkand’s 1:53.64. Despite finishing 2nd in her heat, Marrkand just missed the final at 9th.

*WOMEN’S 200 BACK RE-SWIM:*

  • NCAA Record: Elizabeth Pelton (Cal), 2013, 1:47.84
  • American Record: Elizabeth Pelton (Cal), 2013, 1:47.84
  • Championship Record: Elizabeth Pelton (Cal), 2013, 1:47.84
  • 2017 Champion: Kathleen Baker (Cal), 1:48.44

*OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RE-SWIM. IT WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER 200 FLY PRELIMS.*

Marie Chamberlain of Indiana was granted a reswim after a 1:56.85 for 45th in her initial swim. In her 2nd swim of the morning, Chamberlain moved up to 44th. She was slightly faster this time around in 1:56.29.

This is the 2nd re-swim we’ve seen at this meet. Yesterday, Virginia Tech was granted a re-swim in the 200 medley relay after the meet referee determined that their leadoff swimmer was not given the same opportunity as other athletes due to a disturbance from an official.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE RELAY:

  • NCAA Record: Stanford, 2017, 3:07.61
  • American Record: Stanford, 2017, 3:07.61
  • Championship Record: Stanford, 2017, 3:07.61
  • 2017 Champion: Stanford, 3:07.61

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Stanford, 3:11.15
  2. Cal, 3:11.23
  3. Louisville, 3:11.51
  4. Michigan, 3:11.88
  5. Virginia, 3:12.41
  6. Tennessee, 3:12.46
  7. Texas, 3:12.63
  8. Texas A&M, 3:12.66

Stanford and Cal were narrowly separated this morning as they won their respective heats. Simone Manuel‘s 47.14 anchor was the fastest split for the Cardinal, while Abbey Weitzeil was the top swimmer for Cal in 47.25 on the 2nd leg. Louisville’s Mallory Comerford had the fastest split of the morning with a 46.58 on the 2nd leg. The fastest leadoff split came from Texas A&M’s Béryl Gastaldello  in 47.46.

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Sccoach
6 years ago

Can someone in the know confirm that this is for sure on ESPNU this evening. Looking at my guide it shows college lacrosse all day. Yesterday it was on the guide.

swamr
Reply to  Sccoach
6 years ago

Not on ESPNU today it is on ESPN3, meaning you can watch it online.

Sccoach
Reply to  swamr
6 years ago

Thanks

bobo gigi
6 years ago

My favorite race tonight will be Simone vs Mallory in the 100 free. Last individual college race for Simone Manuel. I doubt she plans to lose it. 🙂
And Ella Eastin can finish her fantastic meet with a 3rd individual win, a 3rd NCAA record, a 3rd US Open record, a 3rd championship record and a 3rd American record! I don’t know if it has already been done before. At least in the last 20 years. Maybe Natalie Coughlin?

Andy
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Has anyone heard anything about Mallory’s 500? Really hard to figure out how they thought that was a better option than the 50…

CraigH
Reply to  Andy
6 years ago

Warm up swim?

bobo gigi
Reply to  Andy
6 years ago

Weird choice. I’m sure she would have finished second in the 50 free.

PsychoDad
Reply to  Andy
6 years ago

I am pretty sure the decision has to do with their Olympic plans. Somehow swimming that 500 and swimming it in such a high level competition fits better in their plans. They are not stupid, you know…

caleb
Reply to  Andy
6 years ago

She’s done the 500 the last few years and I assume trains for it, and went 4:35 a few weeks ago. they probably figured it was safer points than the 50 where a bad start or turn can throw you out of the final. But did not work out that way.. hard to know if she lost endurance during taper, or misjudged the pace early in the race, or just didn’t get a good warmdown after the relay that morning.

wild Bill
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

With the 20.45 Simone has shown she is getting back into the form of last years 45.56. Has anyone noticed she gets better as the meet progress.

For Mallory, she may dip below 46.00. I believe Simon will do 45.7 or better.

It will be a fantastic race.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  wild Bill
6 years ago

i still give the edge to Mallory – her 200 is getting insanely fast …so it bodes well for this 100 final . 45.9 to 46.1 for Simone – super tight finish

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

I have my answer. Natalie Coughlin won 3 individual titles in 2002 with 3 American, NCAA and US Open records.
49.97 in the 100 back
50.01 in the 100 fly
1.49.52 in the 200 back
She even broke a 4th American, NCAA and US Open record in the 100 free in the lead-off leg of the 4X100 free relay in 47.47.

samuel huntington
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

greatest NCAA performance ever

caleb
6 years ago

Rough morning for Texas. Lots of 9ths and 17ths..

HOYA13
6 years ago

Rough prelims for Remedy Rule in the 2fly. No chance to avenger her DQ from last year. ?

PsychoDad
Reply to  HOYA13
6 years ago

Disappointing swimming for Texas again at NCAAs. Outside Pfeifer, not many exciting swims. Hope Carol continues to recruit well and figures out dual meets mean nothing; March is everything. She shares office with the best taper coach and she can learn from him.

caleb
Reply to  PsychoDad
6 years ago

They’re gonna finish 5th, what were you hoping for? With Evans obviously sick or hurt. Was a lot of it diving?

austinpoolboy
Reply to  PsychoDad
6 years ago

adams had some good swims, especially 200 free split on 800 relay

MarchSwimmingMadness
Reply to  PsychoDad
6 years ago

Maybe Evie can share the Pfeifer Effect. She is doing something right…looks awesome. But yes everyone but EP and the diver have not done as well as i expected.

Swimmer
Reply to  PsychoDad
6 years ago

Similar situation last year at Florida. Greg Troy an excellent coach yet Florida girls scored zero points last year. You would think there would be some shared knowledge

Bevo
Reply to  PsychoDad
6 years ago

With all relays in the big finals for the first time in several years, I’d say add a couple more big finalists and UT goes top 3. They were 3rd after the 2nd night….

Hannah
Reply to  Bevo
6 years ago

Texas has some great classes coming in next year and in 2019 so they are definitely on an upward trajectory.

OldArmy
Reply to  Hannah
6 years ago

Hannah, You could have said the same last year .. And the year before that … And the year before that …

Cookies
Reply to  OldArmy
6 years ago

Oldarmy — and they would have been correct too. Probably 4th or 5th this year even with no Evans.

Schwimfanny
Reply to  PsychoDad
6 years ago

She can learn from him? Hahahaha. The Reese brothers are not champions of female coaches. We can’t have anyone coming close to stealing Eddie’s spotlight, ESPECIALLY not a woman.

Schwimfanny
Reply to  Schwimfanny
6 years ago

Can vote the comment down all you want. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s true.

OldArmy
6 years ago

When was the last time one team got four swimmers in am A final? The only one I remember was the Texas men got 5 in the 100 fly a few years ago. Any history buffs out there?

samuel huntington
Reply to  OldArmy
6 years ago

Auburn men back in their glory days did it

Steve Nolan
Reply to  OldArmy
6 years ago

Was it five or six?

Swimcanada
Reply to  OldArmy
6 years ago

They actually got 6 into the finals that year.

Phelps swims 200 breast rio
Reply to  Swimcanada
6 years ago

wow!

USA
Reply to  OldArmy
6 years ago

I remember Cal having 3 in 2016

OldArmy
Reply to  OldArmy
6 years ago

Wow, three down votes for a simple question. Tough crowd here.

swamfan
Reply to  OldArmy
6 years ago

Cal had 3 in the 2016 200 IM final, the 2015 100 back final, the 2015 200 back final, and 2015 200 free final.

swamfan
Reply to  swamfan
6 years ago

Oh i read 3 not 4 whoops

wild Bill
6 years ago

Ella looked good

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

Assembling a prayer circle for Louise Hansson’s last 50 tonight. Let’s join hands. . .

Steve Nolan
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

I’m busy assembling an intricate pulley system for this here piano.

Sccoach
6 years ago

Wow I heard Oprah showed up to be an official.

“YOU GET A RE-SWIM!” “YOU GET A RE-SWIM!.”

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Sccoach
6 years ago

Lololol it does seem like there were a lot this year. What was that one for? Guessing equipment malfunction

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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