March 19, 2011
Complete Results | Photo Gallery
AUSTIN - The Auburn women's swimming and diving team capped off the season with an eighth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.
Cal won the meet with 424 points followed by Georgia in second with 394.5. USC (351), Stanford (272), Arizona (266), Texas (232), Florida (226), Auburn (202), Minnesota (192) and Texas A&M (182) round out the top 10.
"It was a tough meet," said Auburn head coach Brett Hawke. "Top to bottom, their was some tough competition. I can't say enough about our senior class. They have given this program so much over the years and I can't express the gratitude we as a staff feel for their efforts. Arianna (Vanderpool-Wallace) getting the win in the 100 free was a big result - the first in school history. Vennie Dantin up on the platform finishing sixth was huge for us, as well."
Just two days after becoming the first woman in Auburn history to claim a 50 freestyle NCAA title, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace struck again. This time it was in the 100 free as the Nassau, Bahamas, native swam a 47.07 to take the crown and best a host of strong west coast talent.
"It feels awesome," said Vanderpool-Wallace. "I've been working hard on my sprint events, the 50 and 100, so to come up with the national championship in both is pretty great. I knew I was going to have to do whatever I could to get my hand on the wall first. It was eight great girls in that race, so it was tough.
The 2008 Olympian and 10-time SEC Champion swam a new NCAA record time of 46.81 in the 100 free twice in last month's SEC Championships in Gainesville, Fla., beating Natalie Coughlin's eight-year NCAA record times.
"Arianna (Vanderpool-Wallace) has been so focused all year and she's wanted to win this from the very first workout," said Hawke. "Once she sets her mind on something, it's hard to stop her with that kind of determination. She was going to be tough to stop tonight.
Senior Caitlin Geary made her second appearance in an NCAA 100 freestyle finals session, picking up a fifth-place consolation finish with a season best 48.51. The Orlando, Fla., native swam a heats of 48.60, what was then her fastest of the season.
Sophomore Hannah Riordan hit a new top time in the 100 free prelims, touching in at 48.95 to place 20th, followed by freshman Olivia Scott (49.90) in 48th and sophomore Becca Jones (50.32) in 57th.
The Auburn 400 freestyle relay team of Vanderpool-Wallace, Geary, Riordan and Emily Bos swam a new Auburn record time of 3:11.70 in the 400 freestyle relay. The previous mark of 3:12.00 was set by Ava Ohlgren, Vanderpool-Wallace, Melissa Marik and Caitlin Geary at the 2009 SEC Championships.
Vanderpool-Wallace's relay leg of 46.82 set a new pool record and was a mere .01 seconds from tying her NCAA record in the 100 free.
Vennie Dantin earned her second All-America honor of the 2011 NCAA Championships Saturday, placing sixth off the tower with a six-dive total 311.75. The three-time All-American placed sixth off the one-meter springboard in Thursday competition. Dantin placed third off the tower at the 2011 SEC Championships.
"It was a great meet for her," said head diving coach Jeff Shaffer. "Sixth on one-meter and sixth on the tower is a fantastic showing. She hit three outstanding dives to start the finals but got a little anxious with the kickout on her fourth dive and didn't quite finish it the way we wanted it to. It was a great contest."
Katie Gardocki shaved four seconds off her previous best time in the 1,650, winning her heat and placing 13th, overall, with a 16:04.85. The Suffield, Conn., native narrowly missed consols at the 2010 NCAA Championships, placing 18th.
Bos nearly earned a second finals appearance, just grazing the 200 back consolation finals with a 1:54.93 to take 17th in prelims. The Holland, Mich., native earned her first All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the 100 back "B" final.
Junior Micah Lawrence placed 21st in the 200 breast, swimming a 2:11.59. Lawrence earned her seventh All-America honor in Thursday's 400 medley relay.
Saturday was the third and final day of the 2011 Women's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Cal held the lead with 295 points heading into Saturday's final session, followed by Georgia with 274.5 and USC with 252. The Tigers were in ninth, with 127 points, and were bookended by Minnesota with 139 and Texas A&M with 124.
Complete NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship information can be accessed via www.TexasSports.com.