USC Athletics

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Stanford won the race in 6:47.22 with Cal second in 6:50.12. Michigan was fourth in 6:54.35.
 
"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."
 
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.