Women's Swimming & Diving | March 20, 2019
USC's 800y free relay of junior
Louise Hansson, freshman
Laticia Transom and juniors
Tatum Wade and
Kirsten Vose obliterated the school record with a 6:52.13 to finish third in the one-event opening night of the 2019 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships on Wednesday (March 20) in Austin, Texas.
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The swim erased the old school standard set during USC's 2016 NCAA swim of 6:53.84 that took second. Vose anchored that race. This was also USC's first top 8 finish in the event since 2016.
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Hansson opened the race Wednesday with a 1:41.95, a season-best and just 0.15 off of her school record in the 200y free. Transom followed with a 1:43.61, Wade clocked a 1:43.00 and Vose came home in 1:43.57. Wade earned her first career All-American honor with the swim in her third NCAAs.
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Stanford won the race in 6:47.22 with Cal second in 6:50.12. Michigan was fourth in 6:54.35.
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"The first NCAA relay is always a 'hold your breath and see where you're at' kind of event," USC Coach
Dave Salo said. "We felt confident we could be better (than Pac-12s) so I'm really proud of our women for stepping it up with confidence and patience in that race and coming home with a team record. We have come to expect a strong lead off swim by Louise and that calms Tish, Tatum and Kirsten so they can do their jobs."
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USC will enter Thursday's first full day with 32 points, third overall. Prelims begin at 7 a.m. PT Thursday through Saturday with finals at 3 p.m. PT.
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