Feb. 28, 2009
ATHENS, Ga. - Auburn's Erica Meissner and Abby MacGregor came in with a pair of NCAA provisional qualifying times Saturday as they competed in the Georgia Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga.
The meet serves as a last-chance meet for swimmers attempting to qualify for the 2009 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. The women's Championships are scheduled for March 19-21 in College Station, Texas.
Meissner hit her "B" cut time of 2:00.75 in the 200 IM prelims. The mark bested her previous top-time of 2:01.74 in the event. Meissner also holds "B" cuts in the 100 and 200 back.
MacGregor also swam under the 100 breast "B" cut with a 1:01.07. The Louisville, Ky., native already owned an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the event, but earned a new top-time in Saturday's finals.
"We're trying to get some additional swimmers eligible for the NCAA Championships," said Auburn women's co-head coach Dorsey Tierney-Walker. "Erica swam well today in the 200 IM. Abby's time today kind of puts her on the bubble to qualify for nationals. We're going to try her again in the 200 fly tomorrow. She keeps getting better."
The Tigers now own 49 individual "B" cut split between 17 swimmers. Auburn also has 10 NCAA individual automatic qualifying times between junior Ava Ohlgren (4), sophomore Caitlin Geary, senior Rachel Goh, senior Margo McCawley, junior Alana Dillette, junior Melissa Marik, and senior Julianne McLane.
Action in the Bulldog Invitational continues Sunday.