By Dan D’Addona.
It was the narrowest of margins and one of the most exciting finishes.
The USC women used a third-place finish in the final relay to win the SMU Women’s Classic on Saturday, edging Louisville by a half point.
Yes, a half point.
USC scored 331, while Louisville was runner-up with 330.5. Michigan was third with 322, followed by UCLA (239.5), Miami (230) and SMU (209).
The Trojans received key wins from Louise Hansson, Riley Scott and Maddie Wright to seal the victory.
Meanwhile, another individual epic showdown took place between Louisville’s Mallory Comerford and Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey.
One day after edging Michigan’s Haughey in an epic 200-yard freestyle battle, Comerford did it again.
Comerford won the 100 freestyle in 47.00, narrowly edging Haughey (47.22) in another battle of two of the best collegiate swimmers in the world. The times are the top two in the country this year.
USC’s Marta Ciesla took third in 49.56, while Michigan’s Catie DeLoof won the B final in 49.18.
Comerford won the 500 freestyle in 4:39.24, holding off Michigan All-American Rose Bi (4:40.37).
Louisville’s Alina Kendzior, Mariia Astashkina, Grace Oglesby and Lainey Visscher won the 200 medley relay in 1:38.31.
Michigan finished second (1:38.82) behind Clara Smiddy, Miranda Tucker, Vanessa Krause and DeLoof, while USC’s Hannah Weiss, Scott, Wright and Ciesla took third (1:39.40).
Scott won the 200 breaststroke (2:08.20) ahead of Astashkina (2:09.34) and Tucker (2:09.87).
Hansson won the 200 backstroke (1:52.26), edging Smiddy (1:52.52). Hansson (1:55.80) also edged Smiddy (1:56.97) in the 200 IM.
Wright won the 200 butterfly (1:54.97) ahead of Oglesby (1:55.05).
Miami’s Wally Layland won 3-meter diving with 294.00 points. Michigan’s Nikki Canale was third with 268.60.
Comerford, Visscher, Arina Openysheva and Casey Fans won the 200 freestyle relay (1:28.72), finishing ahead of Michigan’s Haughey, Catie DeLoof, Gabby DeLoof and Krause (1:29.98).
Complete Day 2 results.
bingo
Riley winning the 100 and 200 breaststroke! Wow!!!