What was the key to Olivia Smoliga’s new NCAA record? (Video)

^{Produced by Coleman Hodges.}

^{Reported by Stephen Parsons.} 

50 FREE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: Lara Jackson, Arizona, 21.27r
• American Record: Abbey Weitzeil, Canyons Aquatic, 21.12
• U.S. Open Record: Abbey Weitzeil, Canyons Aquatic, 21.12
• 2015 NCAA Champion: Simone Manuel, Stanford, 21.32

Georgia’s sprinting star, Olivia Smoliga, clocked a 21.21 for her fourth 50 free of the day and managed to reset the NCAA and Georgia Tech Pool Records. She flipped at the 25 in 10.25 and closed with a 10.96, solidifying her performance as the second fastest 50 yard freestyler in history.

Cal’s Farida Osman finished second to Smoliga in 21.46, but actually out split her 10.96 to 10.95 on the second length. Osman’s time also ties Natalie Coughlin’s prior pool record.  Ohio State’s Zhesi Li was the only swimmer in this final to be close to Smoliga’s 25 touch at 10.34 and with that opening split, she held on for third place with a time of 21.48. Kelsi Worrell tacked on a little bit from her prelims swim, but 21.75 was good enough for the event’s fourth place finish. Texas A&M’s Beryl Gastaldello (21.82) and Stanford’s Lia Neal (21.99) were the last two under the 22 second barrier while Tennessee freshmen, Madeline Banic, capped the top-eight at 22.02

In consolations, USC’s Anika Apostalon, a San Diego State transfer, posted a 21.82. That time would have tied her for 5th place with Gastaldello in the A final.