NCAA Division I Women’s Championships: Outside Smoke, Cindy Tran Wins 100 Back Out of Lane 8

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AUSTIN, Texas, March 18. CALIFORNIA's Cindy Tran looked like Aaron Peirsol at the Texas Swimming Center for a moment, using just enough energy to get into finals, then winning as outside smoke in the women's 100-yard back at the NCAA Division I Women's Championships.

Tran threw a 51.30 up on the scoreboard to win the event, just off her fifth-ranked personal best of 51.22 from Pac 10s last month. The win tied California with Stanford for the most 100 back titles in NCAA history with six each. Marylyn Chiang (1999) and Natalie Coughlin (2001, 02, 03, 04) were the previous winners for the Golden Bears. Teammate Deborah Roth checked in with a 51.51 for second to move to eighth all time, while USC's Presley Bard earned third in 51.62 to take 11th all time.

"I was in tears before the event because I was freaking out," Tran said about winning on her birthday. "And I'm in tears now. I'm really glad that we won and contributed points to the team."

Tran, however, did not have the fastest 100-yard back of the night in the nation as Aquajets' Rachel Bootsma demolished the field with a stunning 50.76 at the NCSA Junior Nationals, live on SwimmingWorld.TV. Bootsma moved up to third all time in the event with only Natalie Coughlin (49.97) and Gemma Spofforth (50.46) being swifter.

Wisconsin's Maggie Meyer (52.01), North Carolina's Carly Smith (52.20), Tennessee's Jennifer Connolly (52.22), Georgia's Megan Romano (52.43) and Texas A&M's Paige Miller (52.57) made up the rest of the A finale.

SMU's Therese Svendsen used a strong final 25 yards to claim the B final in 52.35. Wyoming's Kelsey Conci finished just behind for 10th overall in 52.36. Arizona's Sarah Denninghoff (52.47), Stanford's Betsy Webb (52.71), Auburn's Emily Bos (52.77), Georgia's Kristen Shickora (52.78), California's Colleen Fotsch (53.64) and Kentucky's Chatham Penrod (53.96) comprised the rest of the consolation field.

California maintained its leading tally with 261 points, while USC stood second with 231 points. Georgia (228), Stanford (169) and Arizona (152) held strong at third through fifth.

Top 10 Average Scoring Running Projections Heading Into 800 Free Relay*:
California (261), Georgia (235), USC (231), Stanford (174), Arizona (152), Texas (148.5), Minnesota (130.75), Auburn (127), Florida (121.75), Wisconsin (118)

* Average Scoring Projections based on the average points allotted to an A finalist (14.75) and a B finalist (4.625). Double points for relays.

Swimming World's NCAA Division I Women's Championships Notes Package Sponsored by NISCA

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