ATHENS, Ga. — One day after a talented LSU freshman swimmer set a school record, another one followed Sunday at the Last Chance Meet as Berit Aljand posted a school-record clocking of 1:58.07 in the women’s 200 backstroke to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships in March.
Aljand had set numerous records as an international swimmer in Estonia prior to attending LSU. On Sunday, the freshman easily shattered the school’s best mark in a time trial that was held by Ali Peterson in 1999 (1:59.80). Aljand’s previous best was 2:01.44 in a meet versus Florida on Jan. 12.
The swim was .17 seconds better than the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 1:58.24.
Freshman Julius Gloeckner, who set the school record in the men’s 400 IM on Saturday, earned an additional NCAA provisional standard on Sunday. Gloeckner swam the fourth-fastest time in school history (1:48.70) in the 200 IM time trial.
Junior Colleen Bertirotti entered the day looking to improve her 100 freestyle time. After a preliminary heat, she did just that touching the wall in a season-best time of 50.93.
Seedings for the NCAA Championships take place at the beginning of March. The Women’s NCAA Championships take place in the same facility as the Last Chance Meet, the Gabrielsen Natatorium, March 16-18.
The Men’s NCAA Championships follow a week later in Atlanta, Ga., March 23-25.
LSU divers looking to qualify for both meets get their chance at the NCAA Zone B Regional in Lexington, Ky., March 10-12.