2019 Women’s NCAA Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2019 WOMEN’S DIVISION I NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, March 20th – Saturday, March 23rd
• Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center — Austin, Texas
• Prelims 9 a.m./Finals 5 p.m. (Central Time)
• Defending Champion: Stanford (2x) – 2018 results
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Full livestream schedule

The 2019 Women’s NCAA Championships kick off tonight in Austin, Texas. Tonight’s session will be a quick one, as swimmers will compete in only the 800 free relay.

800 FREESTYLE RELAY

• NCAA Record: Stanford (Manuel, Neal, Eastin, Ledecky), 2017 – 6:45.91
• American Record: Stanford (Manuel, Neal, Eastin, Ledecky), 2017 – 6:45.91
• Meet Record: Stanford (Manuel, Neal, Eastin, Ledecky), 2017 – 6:45.91

1. GOLD: Stanford, 6:47.22
2. SILVER: Cal, 6:50.12
3. BRONZE: USC, 6:52.13

USC’s Louise Hansson was out quick in 49.05 at the 100, extending her lead through the back half to put up the fastest 1st leg in 1:41.95. Stanford’s Ella Eastin came from 2 seconds behind to give the Cardinal the lead in 1:42.03 on the 2nd leg. Freshman teammate Taylor Ruck stole the show on the 3rd leg, pulling Stanford body lengths ahead with a 1:39.83.

Brooke Forde, despite accidentally swimming an extra 50 at the end of her race, sealed a new Pool Record for Stanford (6:47.22) with her anchor split. She was a 1:42.37 to the feet. Cal wound up 2nd in 6:50.12, highlighted by a pair of 1:41s from Katie McLaughlin (1:41.92) and Amy Bilquist (1:41.93) on the final 2 legs. USC rounded out the top 3 in 6:52.13.

Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey put up a 1:40.98 split on the 2nd leg to help the Wolverines to 4th in 6:54.35. Texas wound up 5th and Louisville was 6th with their times from heat 2. Wisconsin came in 7th in 6:57.54, with Beata Nelson posting a 1:41.39 on the 3rd leg. Sydney Pickrem anchored for Texas A&M in 1:42.95 as the Aggies earned the final podium spot in 6:57.75.

Heat 2: Chantal Nack put up a 1:43.40 to get Minnesota out front on the leadoff leg in heat 2. Louisville’s Mallory Comerford, the reigning 200 free NCAA champion, made up a 3-second deficit to pull the Cardinals into the lead with a scorching 1:39.19 on the 2nd leg. Arina Openysheva kept the Cardinals in the lead with a 3rd leg split of 1:44.56. Alena Kraus (1:45.93) dove in for the anchor leg ahead, but Texas’ Joanna Evans (1:43.46) battled back for the Longhorns to win it in 6:55.80, followed by Louisville in 6:56.07.

Heat 1: Arizona’s Kirsten Jacobsen got her team out to the lead with a 1:43.55 on the opening leg. Hannah Cox extended their lead, splitting a 1:44.43 on the 2nd leg, while Ayumi Macias came through with a 1:45.81 on the 3rd leg. Ohio State’s Katie Trace (1:44.04) closed the gap on the anchor leg, but the Wildcats’ Jamie Stone (1:45.68) held her off for the heat 1 win, 6:59.47 to 6:59.62.

TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 1:

1. Stanford- 40
2. Cal- 34
3. USC- 32
4. Michigan- 30
5. Texas- 28
6. Louisville- 26
7. Wisconsin- 24
8. Texas A&M- 22
9. Virginia- 18
10. Kentucky- 16
11. Georgia- 12
12. ASU- 10
13. Arizona- 8
14. Ohio State- 6
15. Auburn- 4
16. Minnesota- 2