NCAA WOMEN’S DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS: Georgia’s Productive Morning Pays Off with a Big Night

By Chris J. Starrs

ATHENS, Georgia, March 17. BOLSTERED by a productive morning in the preliminary events, defending national champion Georgia captured two individual titles and two relay titles Friday night to blast past Arizona and Auburn, taking an impressive lead after the second day of the 2006 NCAA Women’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championships at the Gabrielsen Natatorium on the University of Georgia campus.

After 14 events, Georgia has 379 points to Auburn’s 326 points and Arizona’s 315 points. The three-day championship concludes Saturday, with preliminaries set for 11 a.m. (EST) and the finals scheduled for 7 p.m. (EST).

Coach Jack Bauerle’s top-ranked Bulldogs – who have not lost at home in their last 50 dual meets and won the national crown here in 1999 – sent nine individuals or relay teams to Friday’s finals and made the most of their opportunity, picking up 218 points on the day.

"We're fortunate for this morning," said Bauerle. "We had a great morning that led us to a great night. This has given us a chance. We gave ourselves a chance this morning. This is going to be a horse race."

Georgia got the night off to a grand start as its 200-yard medley relay team – Tricia Harm, Sarah Poewe, Mary DeScenza and Kara Lynn Joyce – finished first in 1:37.24, eclipsing the previous pool record of 1:37.77 set by Stanford in 1999. Arizona, which came into Day Two in first place, finished second at 1:38.78 and Florida State finished third in a time of 1:38.97. DeScenza and Poewe were winners in the event in 2004 and 2005, and were joined by Joyce on the champion’s platform in 2004.

DeScenza, who entered Friday’s competition with nine individual or relay titles in her storied career, picked up another individual championship in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in a pool record time of 51.56 and defending her 2005 crown. DeScenza broke her own pool record of 51.70, established in 2004. The Georgia senior was followed by Arizona State’s Caitlin Andrew (52.23) and Stanford’s Dana Kirk.

"It was a great race," said DeScenza. "Now we want to come back out here tomorrow and do the same thing as we did today. The atmosphere was electric. It feels like so many more fans were here tonight than last night."

Georgia’s Joyce earned her third championship of the weekend (she also won the 50-yard freestyle event on Thursday) in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:43.96. The event proved to be fruitful for the Bulldogs, who had three swimmers in the top eight finalists and picked up 51 points in the event. California’s Erin Reilly finished second in a time of 1:44.63 and Auburn’s Emily Kukors was third at 1:44.66.

"It was my third event," said Joyce. "I knew it would be a tough race to win. After I hit the wall it was a relief. I'm just so happy to score so many points for the team."

Georgia’s 800-yard freestyle relay team – DeScenza, Joyce, Jessica Cole and Claire Maust – brought the night to a close in exciting fashion, as Joyce put on a remarkable come-from-behind sprint in the last eight laps to overtake Arizona’s Anna Turner and pace the Bulldogs to a first-place finish in a time of 7:03.75, yet another pool record. Arizona finished second at 7:07.10 and Auburn was third at 7:07.12.

Arizona and Auburn both managed to earn a championship apiece Friday with victories in the 400-yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke.

Whitney Myers of Arizona won the 400-yard individual medley in a time of 4:06.32, setting a new Gabrielsen Natatorium mark, breaking the old standard of 4:06.76, set in 1999 by Villanova’s Maddy Crippen. Auburn’s Julie Stupp was second at 4:09.22 and Stanford’s Kristen Caverly finished third in a time of 4:09.70.

“I’m still stunned (that I won the race),” said Myers. “I’m really proud of how I did. I was hurting in that last 100 yards, but no guts, no glory. This is the first time I’ve ever swam the 400 IM in a major event.”

In the 100-yard backstroke, Auburn’s Rachel Goh finished first in a pool-record time of 52.35, bettering the previous record of 52.36, set by Marilyn Chang of Georgia in 1999. Arizona’s Jenna Gresdal was second at 52.74 and Virginia’s Brielle White was third at 52.76.

“It was just amazing to win for Auburn,” said Goh, a sophomore. “I put my heart and soul into the team. I just wanted to win for them. With our team, it's like every person counts. They're like my family. I'm just amazed.”

In the 3-meter diving finals, Blythe Hartley of Southern Cal was first with 373.15 points, followed by Christina Loukas of Indiana (371.40) and Auburn’s Corey Gerlach (365.65). Cal's Jessica Hardy edged Rebecca Soni in the 100 breaststroke as her 1:00.02 effort was slightly quicker than Soni's 1:00.07.

Saturday’s finals include the 1,650-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, platform diving and 400-yard freestyle relay.

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