March 21, 2015
Complete Results | Complete Results (PDF) | Schedule |
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Six more Tigers added All-America honors and the 400 freestyle relay team of Allyx Purcell, Megan Fonteno, Alex Merritt and Valerie Hull placed eighth overall as the Auburn women concluded the 2015 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday at the Greensboro Aquatics Center.
Purcell, Fonteno, Hull and Merritt dropped time in the finals session, placing eighth overall with a time of 3:15.49 in the last event of the competition.
"I thought we had some good swims during the last day of competition," head coach Brett Hawke said. "It was good to get two individuals back for the night session and I thought our 400 free relay team did a great job to make it back tonight. Overall, it wasn't the finish we wanted but this meet gives us valuable experience for next year."
Annie Lazor set a lifetime best and was the runner-up in the 200 breast consolation final, clocking a 2:08.41. Lazor's time is the second-best swim in school history and just .18 seconds off the school record. The junior's 10th-place finish is the best by an Auburn swimmer since 2007 in the event.
Jillian Vitarius finished 14th overall in the 200 backstroke, posting a 1:53.89 in the consolations finals to earn her second-straight All-America honor in the event. The junior set a personal best with a time of 1:52.38 in the prelims Saturday morning.
Ashley Neidigh closed out the meet with a time of 16:15.47 in the timed finals of the 1650 freestyle to take 27th place.
It will be the Auburn men's turn next as the 2015 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships run Thursday through Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa, at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
For the latest updates on Auburn Swimming and Diving, follow the Tigers on Twitter, @AuburnSwimming or like Auburn Swimming and Diving on Facebook.
 | NCAA Results - Day Three |
1650 Freestyle
27. Ashley Neidigh (16:15.67)(PR)
200 Backstroke
14. Jillian Vitarius (1:53.89)
200 Breaststroke
10. Annie Lazor (2:08.41)(PR)
Platform Diving
31. Cinzia Calabretta (225.85)
34. Carly Scheper (220.90)
400 Freestyle Relay
8. Purcell, Fonteno, Merritt, Hull (3:15.49)
TEAM SCORES
1. California 513, 2. Georgia 452, 3. Stanford 363, 4. Texas A&M 231, 5. Virginia 229, 6. Louisville 197, 7. Texas 164, 8. USC 163, 9. Florida 129, 10. Indiana 126, 18. Auburn 66
AUBURN ALL-AMERICANS (19)
Ashton Ellzey (1) - 200 FR
Megan Fonteno (3) - 200 FR, 200 MR HM, 400 FR
Valerie Hull (3) - 200 FR, 400 MR HM, 400 FR
Annie Lazor (2) - 400 MR HM, 200 breast HM
Natasha Lloyd (1) - 200 MR HM
Alex Merritt (2) - 400 MR HM, 400 FR
Allyx Purcell (4) - 200 FR, 400 MR HM, 200 MR HM, 400 FR
Jillian Vitarius (3) - 400 MR HM, 200 MR HM, 200 back HM
AUBURN NOTES
- Jillian Vitarius set a personal best and posted the fourth-best time in school history in the 200 backstroke prelims at 1:52.38. The junior earned her second-consecutive All-America honor in the event.
- Annie Lazor became the second Tigers to break the 2:09-mark in the 200 breast, clocking a 2:08.41 Saturday night's final. Her finish gave Lazor her first individual All-America selection in her Auburn career.
- Former Tiger and national champion Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace's NCAA record of 46.61 in the 100 freestyle was broken by Stanford's Simone Manuel, who won the event with a new American/NCAA record time of 46.09.