Meet of the Week Recap: Georgia vs. Texas Women; Ditto Shines

By Jason Marsteller

AUSTIN, Texas, January 11. IN the first SwimmingWorldMagazine.com Meet of the Week of 2008, the Georgia women claimed a 175-119 conquest over the hosting Texas Longhorns in Austin. Overall, Georgia took home 10 out of the available 16 titles.

Kelsey Ditto shined for the Bulldogs with an automatic qualifying time in the 1650 free when she touched in a blazing fast 16:15.50 for the win. She also won the 500 free in a B-cut time of 4:48.68.

Chelsea Nauta provided some other strong performances for Georgia as she had a hand in three titles. On top of winning the 200 free in a B-cut time of 1:47.74, she helped the 400 medley relay of Aleksandra Putra (55.78), Colleen Haase (1:02.18), Anne Broome (55.25) and Nauta (50.18) to a win in a B-cut time 3:43.39. She also anchored the 400 free relay of Anne Miller (51.10), Jessica Cole (51.14), Anne Marie Botek (52.67) and Nauta (50.52) to a win in 3:25.43.

Additionally, Nauta posted a B-cut time in the 200 back with a 2:00.68, but finished behind Putra in the event. Putra performed well in the backstroke events with a B-cut win in the 100 (55.29) followed by a B-cut win in the 200 (1:58.78). Her 400 medley relay leadoff of 55.78 also eclipsed the B-cut threshold.

Colleen Haase swept the breaststroke events for the Bulldogs with B cuts in the 100 (1:02.46) and 200 (2:15.37), while Broome claimed the 200 fly with a B-cut time of 2:01.42.

Georgia had a few other B cut times in non-winning swims. Elizabeth Hill (2:01.61) and Lauren Cartwright (2:02.23) provisionally qualified in the 200 fly, while Anna Miller (4:50.20) did the same in the 500 free. Morgan Scroggy also touched in 2:03.49 in the 200 IM. Meanwhile, Hannah Moore posted a zone-qualifying tally in the 1m with a 278.85 total.

Hee-Jin Chang paced the Longhorns with wins in the 50 (23.27) and 100 (50.35) as both times provisionally qualified Chang for NCAAs.

Additionally, Kathryn Kelly recorded zone-qualifying tallies to win the 1m (318.23) and 3m (339.15), while Kayla Torske also notched a zone score in the 3m (283.28)

Jacqueline Martin Lacey won the 100 fly (56.66), albeit behind an exhibition swim from Georgia's Broome (55.97). Alison Soelter also garnered the 200 IM title (2:04.02), but did not beat Georgia's Scroggy (2:03.49), who exhibitioned the swim.

Texas had a few other non-winning qualifying swims as Susana Escobar (16:29.87) and Natalie Sacco (16:49.53) posted B cuts in the 1650 free, Soelter clocked a 2:17.13 in the 200 breast and Escobar touched in 4:50.44 in the 500 free.

Georgia coach Jack Bauerle
"We're really happy to come here and get a win. Texas has a great team and a great facility. They always bring out the best in us. Both teams are a little banged up after some good holiday training. We're always excited to come to Austin to swim Texas. Some of our freshmen – Kelsey Ditto, an Austin native, Chelsea Nauta, Colleen Haase, Morgan Scroggy – they all did a really good job."

On swimming the Texas men on Saturday
"Texas has arguably the best team in the country. We always have great meets against them. Eddie (Reese) and I go way back, we talk just about every day. I'm looking forward to a great meet, as always."

Texas coach Kim Brackin
"It was great to see Hee-Jin Chang come back the next day and race with more confidence. Alison Soelter…if she continues to have this stretch of swimming without fear, we'll have a great swimmer in February and March for the post season. Natalie Sacco and Susie (Escobar) did a good job in the distance events. It's nice to watch them push each other in practice."

Texas diving coach Matt Scoggin
"Kat Kelly nearly had a career day on the three meter, and her one meter was the best performance of her career at Texas. She is becoming more and more confident, and it's a good time of the season to have this kind of confidence. Kayla Torske had her best three meter performance as a Longhorn, and she was having one of her better one meter contests until her last round. She continues to get better."

Final Score:
Georgia 175, Texas 119

Event Winners
Georgia
400 medley relay: Aleksandra Putra (55.78), Colleen Haase (1:02.18), Anne Broome (55.25), Chelsea Nauta (50.18); 3:43.39
1650 free: Kelsey Ditto (16:15.50)
200 free: Chelsea Nauta (1:47.74)
100 back: Aleksandra Putra (55.29)
100 breast: Colleen Haase (1:02.46)
200 fly: Anne Broome (2:01.42)
200 back: Aleksandra Putra (1:58.78)
200 breast: Colleen Haase (2:15.37)
500 free: Kelsey Ditto (4:48.68)
400 free relay: Anne Miller (51.10), Jessica Cole (51.14), Anne Marie Botek (52.67), Chelsea Nauta (50.52); 3:25.43

Texas
50 free: Hee-Jin Chang (23.27)
1m: Kathryn Kelly (318.23)
100 free: Hee-Jin Chang (50.35)
100 fly: Jacqueline Martin Lacey (56.66)
3m: Kathryn Kelly (339.15)
200 IM: Alison Soelter (2:04.02)

NCAA Cuts
Georgia
A:
1650 free: Kelsey Ditto (16:15.50)

B:
400 medley relay: Aleksandra Putra (55.78), Colleen Haase (1:02.18), Anne Broome (55.25), Chelsea Nauta (50.18); 3:43.39
100 back: Aleksandra Putra (55.78-r; 55.29)
200 free: Chelsea Nauta (1:47.74)
100 breast: Colleen Haase (1:02.46)
200 fly: Anne Broome (2:01.42), Elizabeth Hill (2:01.61), Lauren Cartwright (2:02.23)
200 back: Aleksandra Putra (1:58.78), Chelsea Nauta (2:00.68)
200 breast: Colleen Haase (2:15.37)
500 free: Kelsey Ditto (4:48.68), Anna Miller (4:50.20)
200 IM: Morgan Scroggy (2:03.49)

Zone Diving:
1m: Hannah Moore (278.85)

Texas

B:
1650 free: Susana Escobar (16:29.87), Natalie Sacco (16:49.53)
50 free: Hee-Jin Chang (23.27)
100 free: Hee-Jin Chang (50.35)
200 breast: Alison Soelter (2:17.13)
500 free: Susana Escobar (4:50.44)

Zone Diving:
1m: Kathryn Kelly (318.23)
3m: Kathryn Kelly (339.15), Kayla Torske (283.28)

MOTW, Georgia at Texas

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