2019 Women’s NCAA Championships: Day 4 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
• Day 4 Finals Heat Sheet

Swimmers are gearing up for the last night of finals at the 2019 Women’s NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas. We’ll see the title races for the individual 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and  200 fly tonight. Divers will then compete in the platform finals. The meet will close with the 400 free relay.

Each of the 100 stroke champions and record-breakers will compete for titles in the 200s of their respective strokes tonight. Indiana’s Lilly King is the heavy favorite to win the 200 breast, which would give her a perfect 8-for-8 in breaststroke titles throughout her NCAA career. Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson could take her 3rd individual title of the meet, but she’ll face Stanford freshman standout Taylor Ruck in what’s arguably her best short course event. Stanford’s Ella Eastin is the defending champion and NCAA Record holder in the 200 fly, but USC’s Louise Hansson, the 100 fly champ and NCAA Record holder, has been looking great all week.

Though she appeared to injure herself on the finish of last night’s relay and had her arm wrapped this morning, Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil had a solid prelims swim. After a breakthrough performance in the 50 free, Weitzeil could pick up a sweep of the sprints. She’ll be racing a stacked field that includes 2018 runner-up Mallory Comerford of Louisville, the 200 free champion.

1650 FREESTYLE

• NCAA Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 15:03.31, 2017
• American Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 15:03.31, 2017
• Meet Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 15:07.57 – 2018

TOP 8 FINISHERS:

1. GOLD: Ally McHugh, Penn State, 15:39.22
2. SILVER: Molly Kowal, Ohio State, 15:44.61
3. BRONZE: Mackenzie Padington, Minnesota, 15:47.16
4. Leah Stevens, Stanford, 15:47.31
5. Phoebe Hines, Hawaii, 15:50.13
6. Sierra Schmidt, Michigan, 15:50.19
7. Kensey McMahon, Alabama, 15:53.18
8. Cierra Runge, ASU, 15:53.72

Ohio State’s Molly Kowal led through the first 500 in 4:46.28, with Penn State’s Ally McHugh, the 2018 runner-up, close behind. McHugh took over the lead on the next 50 and began to distance herself from the field. Hawaii’s Phoebe Hines pulled even with Kowal for 2nd by the 800 mark.

McHugh remained in the lead through the 1000, splitting a hundredth faster than Minnesota’s Mackenzie Padington (15:47.16) from the early heats at the 950. McHugh came in at 9:31.93 at the 1000. She then started to pick up the pace, beating Padington’s splits from earlier this afternoon. Kowal started to pick it up again to take a lead on Hines, while Stanford’s Leah Stevens pulled herself into the mix for a top 3 finish in a race with Hines.

With a 500 to go it was all Ally McHugh for the win. Kowal had built a body length lead on Hines in the race for 2nd, and Stevens was stroke-for-stroke racing for 3rd. McHugh continued to build her lead through the back end of the race, winning with a 15:39.22. Kowal dropped almost 5 seconds to take 2nd in 15:44.61. Stevens was 3rd in the heat at 15:47.31, but 4th overall as Padington’s time from the afternoon landed her 3rd. Hines took 4th in the heat but 5th overall in 15:50.13.

200 BACKSTROKE

• NCAA Record: Kathleen Baker (California), 1:47.30 – 2018
• American Record: Regan Smith (Riptide), 1:47.16 – 2019
• Meet Record: Kathleen Baker (California), 1:47.30 – 2018

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS:

1. GOLD: Beata Nelson, Wisconsin, 1:47.24
2. SILVER: Taylor Ruck, Stanford, 1:47.59
3. BRONZE: Asia Seidt, Kentucky, 1:48.65
4. Erin Voss, Stanford, 1:50.92
5. Lucie Nordmann, Stanford, 1:51.10
6. Sonnele Oeztuerk, Auburn, 1:51.22
7. Megan Moroney, Virginia, 1:51.28
8. Ali Galyer, Kentucky, 1:51.62

Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson had a hundredth of a lead on Stanford’s Taylor Ruck at the 50, but Ruck took over by the 100 in 52.14. Ruck led through the 150, but Nelson used her last wall to push ahead with her underwaters, clipping the NCAA Record to win it in 1:47.24. She was less than a tenth shy of the American Record set by Regan Smith at Cary Sectionals earlier this month. Ruck finished in Stanford school record of 1:47.59 to become the 3rd fastest performer ever, while Nelson is #2 on that list.

Kentucky’s Asia Seidt broke 1:49 for the first time, setting a new school record to take 3rd in 1:48.65. She’s now the 9th fastest performer in history. Stanford’s Erin Voss was a tenth shy of her best time from prelims to take 4th in 1:50.92, followed by freshman teammate Lucie Nordmann (1:51.10).

Cal’s Keaton Blovad (1:52.99) took it out in 54.47 for the lead halfway through the B final, but Tennessee’s Meghan Small came through on the back half to win the heat in 1:51.13. That was a breakthrough for Small, as she swam her first best time in the event since 2016. Virginia’s Paige Madden, the 500 free runner-up, was 2nd in that heat with a 1:51.36. That cut half a second off her best.

100 FREESTYLE

• NCAA Record: Simone Manuel (Stanford) – 45.56
• American Record: Simone Manuel, 2017 – 45.56
• Meet Record: Simone Manuel (Stanford), 2017 – 45.56

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS:

1. GOLD: Mallory Comerford, Louisville, 46.24
2. SILVER: Anna Hopkin, Arkansas, 46.56
3. BRONZE: Siobhan Haughey, Michigan, 46.64
4. Abbey Weitzeil, Cal, 46.97
5. Erika Brown, Tennessee, 46.99
6. Amy Bilquist, Cal, 47.42
7. Ky-Lee Perry, NC State, 47.43
8. Catie Deloof, Michigan, 47.59

Arkansas freshman Anna Hopkin led through the 50 in 22.03, but Louisville’s Mallory Comerford chased her down on the final 25 with a new Pool Record time of 46.24. Comerford remains the 2nd fastest ever and put up the 6th fastest time in history. Hopkin was 2nd in 46.56, breaking her tie with Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace for 6th fastest all-time. Hopkin clipped her best by a few hundredths, while Comerford was a few hundredths off her best from 2018.

Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey moved ahead of Missy Franklin to #8 all-time as she finished 3rd in a lifetime best 46.64. Despite swimming with a taped up arm after being injured on last night’s relay finish, Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil still broke 47, taking 4th in 46.97. Tennessee’s Erika Brown, the 5th fastest ever in this event, placed 5th tonight in 46.99.

Auburn’s Claire Fisch took it out with the lead and held off the field to win the B final in 47.78.

200 BREASTSTROKE

• NCAA Record: Lilly King (Indiana), 2:02.60 – 2018
• American Record: Lilly King (Indiana), 2:02.60 – 2018
• Meet Record: Lilly King (Indiana), 2:02.60 – 2018

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS:

1. GOLD: Lilly King, Indiana, 2:02.90
2. SILVER: Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M, 2:03.65
3. BRONZE: Sophie Hansson, NC State, 2:06.18
4. Emma Barksdale, South Carolina, 2:06.87
5. Bailey Bonnett, Kentucky, 2:06.91
6. Noelle Peplowski, Indiana, 2:06.94
7. Anna Belousova, Texas A&M, 2:07.04
8. Kaki Christensen, Virginia, 2:08.74

Indiana’s Lilly King was almost a second ahead at just the 50-mark in 27.39. She came through the 100 at 58.62, still over a second ahead of the field. She was right on record pace at the 150 in 1:30.58. King was slightly off her record from last season as she finished in 2:02.90 with the 2nd fastest performance ever. She now owns 6 of the 8 fastest swims ever in the event and a new Pool Record.

Texas A&M’s Sydney Pickrem moved up to #4 all-time, clocking in at 2:03.65. That was a lifetime best by a second and the 8th fastest performance ever. Behind her, NC State freshman Sophie Hansson dropped over half a second in 2:06.18 to round out the top 3. South Carolina’s Emma Barksdale (2:06.87) outpaced Kentucky’s Bailey Bonnett (2:06.91) and Indiana freshman Noelle Peplowski (2:06.94) on the back half to take 4th. That was a best by almost a full second for Barksdale, while Bonnett and Peplowski broke 2:07 for the first time as well.

Minnesota’s Lindsey Kozelsky (2:07.77), a 2018 finalist in this race, took it out with the lead in the B heat at 1:00.56. Stanford’s Allie Raab closed in on the 3rd 50, taking over the lead down the final stretch to win the heat in 2:06.85. That was a big swim for Raab, who had never broken 2:08 before.

200 BUTTERFLY

• NCAA Record: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018, 1:49.51
• American Record: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018, 1:49.51
• U.S. Open Record: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018, 1:49.51
• Meet Record: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018, 1:50.01
• 2018 Champion: Ella Eastin (Stanford), 2018, 1:50.01

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS:

1. GOLD: Louise Hansson, USC, 1:50.26
2. SILVER: Ella Eastin, Stanford, 1:50.46
3. BRONZE: Grace Oglesby, Louisville, 1:50.80
4. Katie McLaughlin, Cal, 1:51.09
5. Katie Drabot, Stanford, 1:51.94
6. Maddie Wright, USC, 1:52.26
7. Olivia Carter, Georgia, 1:53.06
8. Jing Quah, Texas A&M, 1:53.61

USC’s Louise Hansson, the 100 fly champion, stuck to her typical race plan as she was way under record pace up front in 24.42. Hansson turned in 51.81 at the 100, nearly 2 seconds under record pace. The field started to close in on the 3rd 50, but Hansson still led with a 1:20.33 and a second under record pace. Cal’s Katie McLaughlin was also under record pace at the 150, with Stanford’s defending champ Ella Eastin charging.

Hansson and McLaughlin were fading on the final 50 as Eastin made her move, but Hansson did enough to hold on and win it in 1:50.26 to Eastin’s 1:50.46. ACC Champion Grace Oglesby ran down McLaughlin for 3rd in 1:50.80, while McLaughlin dropped over a second to take 4th in 1:51.09. Oglesby’s time was a best by nearly 1.5 seconds. After tonight’s race, Hansson moves ahead of Kelsi Dahlia as the 3rd fastest ever. Oglesby is now the 5th fastest ever, and McLaughlin is the 7th fastest ever.

Stanford’s Katie Drabot, the 2018 runner-up, was 5th in 1:51.94, just a couple of tenths off her best. USC’s Maddie Wright clipped her best to take 6th in 1:52.26. Georgia freshman Dakota Luther dominated the B final, breaking 1:53 for the first time to win the heat in 1:52.99 with the 7th fastest time of the night. Stanford’s Brooke Forde, the 500 free champion, was 2nd in that heat just a few tenths short of her best in 1:53.93.

PLATFORM DIVING

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS:

1. GOLD: Murphy Bromberg, Texas, 391.60
2. SILVER: Emily Meaney, Purdue, 336.15
3. BRONZE: Jessica Parratto, Indiana, 332.90
4. Delaney Schnell, Arizona, 321.45
5. Abigail Knapton, Nebraska, 316.75
6. Alais Kalonji, Texas A&M, 305.30
7. Olivia Rosendahl, Northwestern, 290.40
8. Maha Gouda, FIU, 270.55

Texas’ Murphy Bromberg won the platform diving finals, moving the Longhorns ahead of Minnesota by 2 points in the battle for 9th with only the 400 free relay remaining. Texas should be safely ahead of the Gophers as the Longhorns are in tonight’s A final. Indiana moved ahead of NC State in the top 5 team race as Jessica Paratto took 3rd.

400 FREE RELAY

• NCAA Record: Cal, 2019, 3:07.41
• American Record: Stanford, 2017, 3:07.61
• Meet Record: Stanford, 2017, 3:07.61

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS:

1. GOLD: Cal- 3:06.96
2. SILVER: Michigan- 3:08.07
3. BRONZE: Stanford- 3:09.73
4. Texas- 3:10.89
5. Louisville- 3:11.24
6. Auburn- 3:11.64
7. Tennessee- 3:12.20
8. Virginia- 3:12.85

Michigan had the lead halfway after Siobhan Haughey‘s split on the 2nd leg, but Cal’s Amy Bilquist closed the gap by half a second on the 3rd leg. It came down to Daria Pyshnenko (47.68) vs. Abbey Weitzeil on the anchor leg. Cal’s Weitzeil, still swimming with her arm wrapped up, dominated the anchor leg. She flipped in 21.43 en route to a 46.07 split, touching for Cal’s new NCAA Record of 3:06.96.

Cal’s time will not count as an American Record, as Weitzeil’s arm tape is against the rules. However, they do claim the NCAA Record, breaking it by half a second. Izzy Ivey led off for the Bears in 47.79, followed by Katie McLaughlin (46.62) and Amy Bilquist (46.48).

Michigan (3:08.07) wound up 2nd with a pair of 46s on the middle legs from Siobhan Haughey (46.44) and Catie Deloof (46.91). Freshman Maggie MacNeil dropped over half a second to lead them off in 47.04. Stanford’s Taylor Ruck ran down the field with a blistering 45.65 split to help the Cardinal (3:09.73) to 3rd place.

USC’s Louise Hansson got an early lead for the Trojans with a 47.38 leadoff. NC State (3:12.11) moved ahead with freshman Kylee Alons on the 2nd leg. Sophie Hansson held on to the Wolfpack’s lead on the 3rd leg, but USC took over on the closing leg with Laticia-Leigh Transom sealing the deal in 3:11.62.

FINAL TEAM SCORES

  1. Stanford                        456.5   2. California                        419
  3. Michigan                          314   4. Louisville                        235
  5. Texas                           190.5   6. Virginia                          188
  7. NC State                        187.5   8. Tennessee                         185
  9. Indiana                           179  10. Southern Cali                     159
 11. Minnesota                       158.5  12. Auburn                            146
 13. Texas A&M                       142.5  14. Arizona                         101.5
 15. Kentucky                        100.5  16. Wisconsin                         100
 17. UCLA                               75  18. Georgia                            66
 19. Arkansas                           63  20. Arizona St                         61
 21. South Carolina                   53.5  22. Missouri                           51
 23. Duke                               47  24. Florida                            44
 25. Ohio St                            43  26. Purdue                             31
 27. Northwestern                       27  27. Penn St                            27
 29. Kansas                             22  30. Lsu                                20
 31. University of Miami                19  32. Eastern Mich                       17
 33. Nebraska                           16  34. Alabama                            14
 34. Florida St                         14  34. Hawaii                             14
 37. Florida Int'l                      11  38. San Diego St                        9
 39. Akron                               6  40. Virginia Tech                       5
 41. Notre Dame                          4  42. UNC                                 2
 43. U.S. Navy                           1  43. Univeristy of Conneticut            1