Women's NCAAs, Day 2: Natalie Takes the 100 Back to Four-peat, Sets NCAA Mark -- March 19, 2004
By Phillip Whitten
100 meter backstroke
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, March 19. WHEN she won the 100 fly, Cal’s Natalie Coughlin became only the seventh person to win the same event at the NCAAs in four consecutive years. She also became the first person to four-peat the 100 fly.
Now she was attempting to duplicate that feat for the 100 back. The world record-holder and top qualifier, Nat was favored to do just that.
She did not disappoint. Taking the lead at the start with her characteristic underwater 15 meters, she was challenged only by Auburn’s Margaret Hoelzer, still dripping wet from her upset victory in the 200 free.
Still, for Hoelzer, it was like trying to stop the tide.
Coughlin split 27.86 – 29.65 to touch home in 57.51, an NCAA record and the world’s fastest time this year, but off her own world mark of 56.71. Hoelzer followed in 58.54.
Official Results: 100-Meter Backstroke Finals
EVENT: 12 WOMEN's 100 Meter Backstroke
NCAA Record: :56.71 Natalie Coughlin Cal. Berkeley 2002
NCAA Meet Record: :58.66 Courtney Shealy Georgia 2000
World Record: :56.71 Natalie Coughlin Cal. Berkeley 2002
American Record: :56.71 Natalie Coughlin Cal. Berkeley 2002
US Open Record: :56.71 Natalie Coughlin Cal. Berkeley 2002
QUALIFYING FOR "A" Cut: :54.47
QUALIFYING FOR This Meet: :55.31
RESULTS of FINALS
RANK NAME YEAR TEAM PRELIM TIME
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
1) COUGHLIN, NATALIE SR CALIFORNIA :59.38 :57.51**
:27.86 :29.65
** NCAA Meet Record:
2) HOELZER, MARGARET JR AUBURN :59.52 :58.54
:28.36 :30.18
3) HAUPT, SARAH SO PENN STATE :59.97 :59.45
:28.46 :30.99
4) WHITE, BRIELLE SO VIRGINIA 1:00.08 :59.80
:28.84 :30.96
5) HAYES, JESSICA JR ARIZONA 1:00.07 1:00.38
:29.43 :30.95
6) GRESDAL, JENNA SO ARIZONA :59.93 1:00.44
:29.21 :31.23
7) SMITH, MARSHI SO ARIZONA :59.97 1:00.54
:29.12 :31.42
8) VOLCAN, ERIN SO AUBURN 1:00.19 1:01.00
:29.88 :31.12
CONSOLATION FINAL
9) STURDY, REBECCA FR TEXAS A&M 1:00.46 1:00.06
:29.24 :30.82
10) FARRELL, MAUREEN JR FLORIDA 1:00.58 1:00.36
:29.28 :31.08
11) VAZIRI, LEILA FR INDIANA 1:00.69 1:00.50
:29.54 :30.96
12) ANDERSON, JENNI JR AUBURN 1:00.46 1:00.56
:29.22 :31.34
13) MACKEY, NICOLE FR HAWAII 1:00.78 1:00.85
:29.22 :31.63
13) SILVER, HELEN SO CALIFORNIA 1:00.68 1:00.85
:29.48 :31.37
15) PATTERSON, COURTNEY JR TEXAS A&M 1:00.82 1:01.04
:29.52 :31.52
16) FESSEL, JACQUE SO TENNESSEE 1:00.72 1:01.27
:29.41 :31.86
