Tigers kick off NCAA Championships with All-American effort

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Justin Casterline/AU Athletics

ATHENS, Ga. – Opening night of the 2024 Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships provided plenty of fireworks for the No. 16 Auburn Tigers inside Gabrielsen Natatorium. An All-American performance in the 200 medley relay puts Auburn 18th (4 points).
 
Meghan Lee, Anastasia Makarova, Lawson Ficken and Lexie Mulvihill kicked the meet off with a bang on Wednesday evening. The Orange and Blue quartet combined for a 1:35.97 in the 200 medley relay, hitting the wall 15th overall, putting four points on the board.
 
The mark was also the fourth-fastest time in Auburn history in the event and well ahead of rivals Georgia and Alabama.
 
When it came time for the 800 medley relay, Polina Nevmovenko, Meghan Lee, Hannah Ownbey and Averee Preble were up for the task. Nevmovenko kicked off the race with a person-best 1:44.19.
The other three Tigers followed suit to crash in at 7:00.92, a season best and the sixth-fastest relay in program history.
 
ALL-AMERICAN HONORS (4 athletes, 4 honors)
Lawson Ficken (200 MR HM)
Meghan Lee (200 MR HM)
Anastasia Makarova (200 MR HM)
Lexie Mulvihill (200 MR HM)
 
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 21
9 a.m. CT – 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free (prelims)
11 a.m. CT – 1-meter diving (prelims)
4:15 p.m. CT – 1-meter diving (consolation finals)
5 p.m. CT – 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 1-meter diving, 200 FR (finals)
 
Friday, March 22
9 a.m. CT – 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back (prelims)
11 a.m. CT – 3-meter diving (prelims)
4:15 p.m. CT – 3-meter diving (consolation finals)
5 p.m. CT – 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter diving, 400 MR (finals)
 
Saturday, March 23
9 a.m. CT – 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly (prelims)
11 a.m. CT – Platform diving (prelims)
2:45 p.m. CT – 1650 heats
4:15 p.m. CT – Platform diving (consolation finals)
5 p.m. CT – 1650, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, Platform diving, 400 FR (finals)