ATHENS, Ga. — Four LSU swimmers, highlighted by the Lady Tigers’ 200 freestyle school-record relay team, head to the Women’s NCAA Championships that begin Thursday morning at the Gabrielsen Natatorium.
The 200 free relay is the first heat scheduled during the three-day event beginning at 10 a.m. CST, followed by finals at 6 p.m. CST. Three of LSU’s relay members will also swim the 50 free on Thursday.
“The first event right out of the shoot probably helps us,” said head coach Adam Schmitt. “That gives us our best event first and that is a good thing.”
The group of Katherine Noland, Colleen Bertirotti, Katie Gilmore and Heather Brand carry the No. 9 seed into the event after posting a school-record time at the SEC Championships in February (1:31.10).
“Coming to a facility like Georgia and being able to do what we do well in sprinting, I think we can improve on that relay,” said Schmitt. “We know we are going to have to get faster and someone is going to have to dig down and go faster. I think they can do it.”
Bertirotti, Noland and Gilmore also swim the 50 free later in the day. Bertirotti enters with the 39th-fastest clocking in the nation (23.04), followed by Noland who is seeded 45th (23.07). Gilmore, one of two freshmen at the meet, qualified for NCAAs with a seed-time of 23.45.
All three of the girls will also participate in the 100 free later in the weekend. Brand, in her second NCAA appearance, swims the 100 butterfly on Friday. The meet culminates with the 400 free relay on Saturday.
“We did a good job at the SEC Championships but we have a lot more to give,” said Schmitt. “We just have to wait and see how they respond at a bigger meet and a more exciting environment.”
Schmitt also praised the entire team for the successful season after posting a 6-5 dual-meet mark and an SEC finish that featured the highest point total by LSU since 2002.
“I am not only proud of the girls here but the entire team around them,” added Schmitt. “They all have represented LSU very well.”
After only qualifying one swimmer in 2005, four have advanced to the national championships this season, including two freshmen who Schmitt and his staff recruited a year ago.
“It’s a process of where we want this team to grow and develop,” said Schmitt. “It not only helps us point wise and swimming more events but it also lets people know that LSU is place to come where you can swim fast. That is part of the excitement, and we are building this team the right way.”
2006 Women’s NCAA Championships
Gabrielsen Natatorium
Athens, Ga.
Thursday’s Schedule of Events (Day 1)
Trials begin at 10 a.m. CST. Finals begin at 6 p.m. CST.
200 Freestyle Relay
500 Freestyle
200 Individual Medley
50 Freestyle
1-Meter Diving
400 Medley Relay