INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Eight Tigers have earned their way into the 2024 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, March 20-23 in Athens, Georgia, the association announced Wednesday.
Meghan Lee (100 back, 100 fly, 200 fly), Anastasia Makarova (100 breast), Maggie McGuire (200 back), Kensley Merritt (100 back), Polina Nevmovenko (100 free, 200 free), Hannah Ownbey (200 IM, 400 IM), Averee Preble (1650 free) and Ellie Waldrep (100 back) have each earned spots to compete in the championships later this month.
Veterans Ownbey and Preble will each be making their fourth straight appearance at the NCAA Championships. It will be the third trip to NCAAs for Lee, Makarova, Nevmovenko and Waldrep. Freshman Maggie McGuire and senior Kensley Merritt have each earned their first trip to the Championships.
Emma Steckiel, Lawson Ficken, Elizaveta Klevanovich and Lexie Mulvihill will accompany the team as relay alternates.
For head coach Ryan Wochomurka, the eight qualifiers match the number from a season ago when Auburn finished 26th (14 points) in Knoxville, TN at the 2023 NCAA Championships, its highest finish since 2019.
Head diving coach John Fox will look to add to the list of Tigers competing at the Championships. The Zone B Diving Qualifier (also in Athens, GA) is set to begin on Sunday, March 10 with the women's 1-meter competition.
INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS
Meghan Lee, Senior
Anastasia Makarova, Junior
Maggie McGuire, Freshman
Kensley Merritt, Senior
Polina Nevmovenko, Junior
Hannah Ownbey, Senior
Averee Preble, Graduate
Ellie Waldrep, Junior
RELAY ALTERNATES
Lason Ficken, Freshman
Elizaveta Klevanovich, Graduate
Lexie Mulvihill, Junior
Emma Steckiel, Senior
