Historic Night at NCAA Championships Sees Records Tumble (Video Interviews Included)

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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The half-point difference between Stanford and Cal looked to be the big story heading into Friday’s final at the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Championships — as any swim could make a title difference.

It still could — but for one night, the superstars completely stole the show as the biggest names in women’s swimming dominated in record-breaking fashion as Ella Eastin, Lilly King, Beata Nelson, Mallory Comerford and Louise Hansson made history in a variety of ways.

It started with the first event of the night as Stanford’s Ella Eastin claimed her fourth 400 IM title in a row, breaking the pool record with a swim of 3:57.03. She is the first woman to ever win the 400 IM all four years.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Then it was USC’s Louise Hansson’s chance to defend her 100 fly title. She responded by smashing her NCAA record in the event, winning in 49.26, lowering her previous mark of 49.34, set at Pac-12s.

“I am happy to be able to swim another best time, especially since I just broke the record two weeks ago,” she said. “It was about getting some rest and focusing on the details.”

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The most anticipated showdown of the meet was in the 200 free as two-time defending champion Mallory Comerford of Louisville went head-to-head with a trio of Olympians — Michigan senior Siobhan Haughey, Stanford freshman Taylor Ruck and Cal senior Abbey Weitzeil.

Haughey took an early lead but a late surge by Comerford gave her the three-peat with a pool record 1:40.26.

“I definitely was thinking to myself that I could do it. I knew going into this one that it was going to be the hardest,” Comerford said. “I think each year, it has gotten progressively harder. The competition, and learning how to be able to race after you have won. We were out really fast. It has been awesome swimming head-to-head with Siobhan so many times. She is an awesome person and competitor. I think we have learned a lot from each other after racing her. I am sure we will continue racing each other. I love being able to race with her and grow with her.”

Ruck was second in 1:40.37 and Haughey was third in 1:40.70, the trio going under 1:41.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

“I saw Siobhan next to me, and I just tried to go as fast as I could,” Ruck said. “It definitely was a really great race.”

After being disqualified in the 200 IM, Haughey bounced back to be on second- and third-place relays on Thursday, before being part of the thrilling 200 free on Friday.

“It was a very exciting race. There are so many great swimmers who were in that heat,” Haughey said. “I had to go out fast, but it was still a great race. Not really the result I wanted, but it was still close to my best time — and it was a great race.”

Weitzeil, who set the American record in the 50 free on Thursday, was fourth in 1:42.29 from lane eight.

An epic showdown, but there was still two individual races to go — and both ended with dominating performances.

Indiana senior Lilly King completed a four-year sweep of the 100 breast and capped it by lowering her own NCAA and American record with a swim of 55.73, crushing the field by almost two seconds — the largest margin of victory ever in the event.

“I was a little nervous going into this meet because I didn’t want to repeat what happened my sophomore year and break the American record at Big Tens, then not do it at NCAAs. But I was able to learn from the past and go faster,” King said. “Seeing all of the other girls go so fast (in their events) was definitely exciting. I saw Beata go faster (in the 100 back) than I ever would in a 100 freestyle. It is super cool to see people doing things that no one has ever done before.”

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

That includes King, who not only broke the American record, but also swept the 100 breast events the past four years and has now won a record seven breaststroke titles overall with her three 200 titles. She will go for a fourth in that event Saturday.

“Seeing Ella sweep the 400 IM was pretty cool. It is something people shouldn’t take for granted,” King said. “It is really special and something to be proud of.”

Wisconsin junior Beata Nelson, the NCAA record-holder in the 100 back, followed up on her 200 IM title by crushing her NCAA 100 back record with a swim of 49.18. It also broke the American record set by Regan Smith earlier this month (49.66).

“I knew that my American record had been broken not too long ago, so that was in the back of my mind when I stepped up to the blocks,” Nelson said. “Backstroke is my baby. Watching Louise was awesome. That definitely gave me confidence. Maybe I could do that, too. And Lilly always performs. I wanted to finish off the trio, so I gave it all I got.”

This same group will have a new event on the meet’s final day and will look to end with a bang. But an amazing night of races from some of the sport’s biggest stars will be tough to follow.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Dan D'Addona — Swimming World Managing Editor

5 years ago

So which was the most impressive performance of the night???

Pat Laughlin

5 years ago

Easton 4 time champion, 400 IM, awesome! Sitting 5 seats away from Katie Ledecky was pretty cool too! All the records going down was amazing. So fun to be in the building!