NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships: California’s Cindy Tran Defends Title

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AUBURN, Alabama, March 16. CALIFORNIA's Cindy Tran rattled the American, U.S. Open and NCAA record with a blazing time of 50.31 in the 100 back at the NCAA Division I Women's Championships.

Tran went out under record pace with a 24.02 compared to Natalie Coughlin's 24.33, however Coughlin had more in the tank on the way back in 2002 when she posted her legendary time of 49.97. The win gave California its seventh 100 back title ever, breaking a tie with Stanford atop the NCAA rankings. Previous Golden Bear victors were Marylyn Chiang (1999) and Coughlin (2001, 02, 03, 04) as well as Tran's title from 2011. Tran's time moved her ahead of Gemma Spofforth (50.46) for second all time in the 100 back.

Georgia's Megan Romano continued an epic evening, taking second with a 51.37 following an American record in the 200 free earlier in the night. That swim jumped Romano up to eighth all time in the event. Tennessee's Jenny Connolly placed third in 51.58.

Arizona's Sarah Denninghoff (51.62), Stanford's Elizabeth Webb (51.69), SMU's Therese Svendsen (52.16), Texas A&M's Paige Miller (52.30) and Georgia's Kristen Shickora (52.51) put up the other times in the finale.

Wyoming's Kelsey Conci kept up a trend of mid-majors taking B final wins, this time with a 52.13 for the win. Arizona's Lauren Smart touched second in 52.26, while Missouri's Dominique Bouchard placed third in 52.53. California's Melanie Klaren (52.77), California's Stephanie Au (52.83), Virginia's Charlotte Clarke (52.96), Stanford's Felicia Lee (52.99) and Richmond's Lauren Hines (53.20) rounded out the consolation heat.

California closed closer to the 300-point threshold with 277 points, while Georgia jumped to second with 207 points. Stanford (198), Southern California (184) and Arizona (178) stood third through fifth.

Editorial coverage of all NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships is brought to you by our sponsor Colorado Time Systems.

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

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