March 18, 2011
AUSTIN -
The Auburn women's swimming and diving team advanced two individuals and one relay to finals Friday at the 2011 NCAA Championships held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin.
Freshman Olivia Scott swam a personal best 52.54 to place seventh in 100 butterfly heats and will advance to her first individual NCAA Championships "A" final. The Aurora, Ill., native bested her previous low mark of 52.62 and moved into fifth-place in the Auburn record books.
"Olivia (Scott) had a strong swim this morning," said Auburn head coach Brett Hawke. "We need to take advantage of our finals entries tonight and bring home as many points as possible. I'm incredibly excited for Emily Bos, as well. She's worked hard all year to reach this point."
The Auburn 200 medley relay team of Emily Bos (25.01), Lauren Norberg (27.46), Olivia Scott (23.59) and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (21.10) earned entrance into Thursday night finals, placing fifth in heats with a 1:37.16.
Between her three appearances thus far in the 200 free and 200 medley relays, Vanderpool-Wallace has swam freestyle legs of 21.21, 21.24 and 21.10. The Nassau, Bahamas became the first swimmer in Auburn history to win an NCAA women's 50 freestyle title in Thursday night finals, swimming a time of 21.38.
Vanderpool-Wallace just missed the 100 fly finals, touching in at 52.92 for a 21st place finish. Sophomore Lindsey Norberg placed 51st in 54.79.
Bos earned a spot in the 100 back consolation finals and will make her first individual appearance in an NCAA final. The Holland, Mich., native placed second in her heat with a time of 53.13. Sophomore Hannah Riordan placed 38th in 54.08.
In a day of near misses, junior Micah Lawrence missed out on finals by three spots, placing 19th in the 100 breast with a 1:00.89. Lauren Norberg placed 34th in 1:01.81 followed by her sister, Lindsey, in 47th with a 1:02.85.
Junior diver Vennie Dantin placed 17th in three-meter springboard prelims with a score of 311.70. The Conroe, Texas, native was one spot and two-tenths of a point shy from advancing to the consolation finals.
Senior Caitlin Geary led the Tigers in the 200 free, placing 20th with a 1:45.86. Sophomore Becca Jones placed 47th in 1:48.05 followed by senior Micah Martindale in 59th in 1:49.31.
Sophomore Katie Gardocki placed 38th in the 400 IM, touching the wall in 4:19.91.
The Tigers entered Friday competition in sixth place with a total of 80 points earned in Thursday night finals.
Swimming competition resumes at 7 p.m. CST. Live streaming video will be provided by ESPN3.