NCAA Women's Swimming And Diving Championships: Day One Prelims - AuburnTigers.com

NCAA Women's Swimming And Diving Championships: Day One Prelims Finals begin at 7 p.m. EST

March 18, 2010

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Auburn women's swimming and diving team kicked off the 2010 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center on the campus of Purdue University.

"We started off the meet really strong with the 200 free relay," head coach Brett Hawke said. "However, we took a backward step like we've done all year and we have to be better in the morning if we want score some points at night. This team will regroup and will be strong tonight and for the rest of the week."

The 200 free relay of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Hannah Riordan, Caitlin Geary and Melissa Marik put together a good start to the meet for the Tigers. The quad swam a season-best time of 1:28.80 to qualify fourth overall.

Reaching the championship final in the 200 IM will be senior Ava Ohlgren. The 2008 national champion in the event qualified eighth overall in a time of 1:56.72. After having to take part in a swim-off for the eight spot in the 50 free, Vanderpool-Wallace qualified ninth overall with an initial time of 22.32.

The team of Marik, Micah Lawrence, Ohlgren and Vanderpool-Wallace qualified ninth overall in the 400 medley relay. The team finished in a time of 3:34.17 and will swim in the consolation finals for the Tigers.

On the diving side of competition, Anna Aguero will represent Auburn in the consolation final on the 1-meter springboard. The sophomore finished 15th during the prelims with a score of 290.35.

Finals are set to start at 7 p.m. EST with the 200 free relay and is followed by the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 1-meter diving and 400 medley relay.

Auburn Swimming and Diving
2010 NCAA Championships - Day One Preliminaries
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Boilermaker Aquatic Center; West Lafayette, Ind.

Auburn Finalists - Women: 200 Free Relay - Championship Final: 4. Vanderpool-Wallace, Riordan, Geary, Marik (1:28.80); 200 IM - Championship Final: 8. Ohlgren (1:56.76); 50 Free - Consolation Final: 9. Vanderpool-Wallace (22.32); 400 Medley Relay - Consolation Final: 9. Marik, Lawrence, Ohlgren, Vanderpool-Wallace (3:34.17); 1-meter - Consolation Final: 15. Aguero (290.35).