March 16, 2017
Auburn will compete for a national title in the 200 freestyle relay as action got underway on Thursday morning at the 2017 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
Aly Tetzloff led off in a personal-best 22.19 as Auburn's 200 free relay team qualified fifth for tonight's final. Her 50 free split made her the ninth-fastest performer in Auburn history. The remaining three legs were handled by Ashton Ellzey (21.93), Julie Meynen (21.65) and Allyx Purcell (21.74). The combined time of 1:27.51 was just .06 seconds behind the school record of 1:27.45 set by Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Emile Ewing, Caitlin Geary and Melissa Marik at the 2009 SEC Championships.
Auburn finished 18th in the 200 free relay a year ago and is in search of its first top-five finish in the event since 2012.
Alison Maillard made the consolations on the 1-meter, placing 14th (279.00).
Ashley Neidigh and Zoe Thatcher both had top-25 performances in school history and personal-best finishes in finishing 30th and 33rd, respectively, in the 500 free. Neidigh's 4:41.77 was the 14th-fastest swim in the Auburn annals and Thatcher's 4:42.25 the 21st.
Sophomore Bailey Nero jumped up from a 56th-place finish last year to a 33rd-place finish this year in the 200 IM, clocking a 1:58.52.
Swimming in her first individual event at the national championships, Meynen finished 25th in the 50 free in 22.28.
The 400 medley relay team of Erin Falconer (53.97), Natasha Lloyd (1:00.41), Haley Black (51.64) and Meynen (47.50) finished 20th in 3:33.52
ESPN3.com will stream the championships finals sessions live on Friday and Saturday. Wednesday's evening session, Thursday's sessions along with the morning sessions on Friday and Saturday will be streamed live on NCAA.com and indianasportscorp.org/ncaasd. Additionally, ESPNU will air a two-hour broadcast via tape delay at 7 p.m. Eastern time, Tuesday, March 28. Live results for the championships will be available on NCAA.com.
Thursday Auburn Prelims Results
200 Freestyle Relay
5. Auburn (Tetzloff 22.19, Ellzey 21.93, Meynen 21.65, Purcell 21.74) 1:27.51
500 Freestyle
30. Ashley Neidigh 4:41.77
33. Zoe Thatcher 4:42.25
200 IM
33. Bailey Nero 1:58.52
50 Freestyle
25. Julie Meynen 22.28
400 Medley Relay
20. Auburn (Falconer 53.97, Lloyd 1:00.41, Black 51.64, Meynen 47.50) 3:33.52
1-Meter Diving
14. Alison Maillard 279.00