Georgia Dominates 800 Free Relay to Finish Day Two in Team Lead

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 22. GEORGIA didn't have its NCAA and American record speed from a month ago when the Bulldogs set the 800-yard free relay record with a 6:52.64. But, UGA didn't need it as the topped the final event of day two at the NCAA Division I Women's Championships.

Shannon Vreeland (1:44.13), Megan Romano (1:43.00), Brittany MacLean (1:44.27) and Allison Schmitt (1:43.03) had more than enough to capture the title with a 6:54.43. That gave UGA a fourpeat in the event, having won previously in 2010, 11 and 12. Georgia now has seven 800 free relay wins in school history, second only to Stanford. Other Bulldog victories occurred in 2001, 2005 and 2006.

Arizona's Bonnie Brandon (1:44.79), Margo Geer (1:43.01), Grace Finnegan (1:45.40) and Monica Drake (1:44.06) took second with a swift 6:57.26 out of the second of the three timed final heats. California's Rachael Acker (1:45.54), Caroline Piehl (1:45.41), Catherine Breed (1:44.33) and Elizabeth Pelton (1:42.16) stayed within striking distance of Georgia for the team title with a third-place 6:57.44.

Stanford (6:59.16), Texas A&M (7:02.03), Southern California (7:02.49), Florida (7:02.54) and Minnesota (7:02.77) grabbed the rest of the top eight podium spots in the timed final event.

Georgia finished the day with a clean 300 points for the team lead. California stood second with 285 points, just 15 points behind. Tennessee held onto third with 263.5 points after capturing its third relay of the meet to start the night.

Arizona (246) and Texas A&M (216) were the only other teams to clear 200 points to stand fourth and fifth heading into the final day of competition.


Results: NCAA Division I Women's Championships: Day Two Finals

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