NCAA Women’s Championships: Texas Could Move Up to Second Place Friday Evening (Heat Sheets & Up-Downs)

Texas fifth-year swimmer Kelly Pash -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

NCAA Women’s Championships: Texas Could Move Up to Second Place Friday Evening (Heat Sheets & Up-Downs)

The University of Virginia and University of Florida have combined for wins in all swimming events thus far at the NCAA Championships, and accordingly, Virginia looks on track for a fourth consecutive national title while Florida is in second place while aiming for its highest finish since winning a national title in 2010.

But let’s add Texas to the list as a serious contender. After Thursday, the Longhorns’ only A-finalist had been diver Hailey Hernandez while the team’s relays had placed third, sixth and seventh. But Texas had a huge Friday morning session, and with the Longhorns sitting only 22 points behind Florida despite a quiet start to the meet, they are in position to move up into second place by the close of business Friday evening in Athens, Ga.

The Texas surge began in the 100 butterfly as Emma Sticklen, Olivia Bray and Kelly Pash placed second, third and fourth, respectively, and in the 100 breaststroke, both Anna Elendt and defending NCAA champion Lydia Jacoby qualified for the top heat.

While Florida and Virginia also scored five A-finalists Friday, the Longhorns crushed every other team with six swimmers making it into consolation finals: Campbell Stoll and Angie Coe in the 400 IM, Erin Gemmell in the 200 free and the trio of Bray, Berit Berglund and Emma Kern in the 100 back. All of those B-finalists except Bray are freshmen. Texas is also setting up for a diving boost, with Hernandez and Bridget O’Neil likely to score in the 3-meter event.

Virginia, meanwhile, will have heavy event favorites in Alex Walsh (400 IM) and Gretchen Walsh (100 fly) while Ella Nelson (400 IM), Aimee Canny (200 free) and Jasmine Nocentini (100 breast) are all A-final bound. Florida’s top-eight swimmers include Emma Weyant and Zoe Dixon (400 IM) plus Olivia Peoples (100 fly) and the 200 free duo of Bella Sims and Isabel Ivey.

Stanford was just behind with four A-finalists, with young IMers Caroline Bricker and Lucy Bell accompanied by Gigi Johnson (100 fly) and Kayla Wilson. Tennessee had three in the top heat with Camille Spink (200 free), Mona McSharry (100 breast) and Josephine Fuller (100 back), but the Lady Vols’ morning was close to being even better, with Brooklyn Douthwright missing the 200 free final by just three hundredths and Emilie Fast also ending up in ninth place in the 100 breast, six hundredths away from eighth.

Cal, Texas A&M, Auburn, NC State, Ohio State, Indiana and USC were other teams with multiple Friday A-finalists. Southern Illinois’ Celia Pulido became the first mid-major A-finalist of the meet with her seventh-place result in the 100 back.

Friday Up-Downs

Texas 5-6
Virginia 5-2
Florida 5-0
Stanford 4-2
Tennessee 3-2
Ohio State 2-3
Cal 2-1
NC State 2-1
USC 2-1
Texas A&M 2-1
Auburn 2-0
Indiana 2-0
UCLA 1-1
Wisconsin 1-1
Minnesota 1-0
Southern Illinois 1-0
Michigan 0-3
Louisville 0-3
North Carolina 0-3
Akron 0-1
Alabama 0-1
Arkansas 0-1
Cincinnati 0-1
Florida State 0-1
Georgia 0-1
Houston 0-1
Miami (Ohio) 0-1
Miami (Florida) 0-1
Northwestern 0-1

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