ATHENS, Ga. — The LSU women’s swimming team sits in 21st place through six events as the opening day of the Women’s NCAA Championships came to a close at the Gabrielsen Natatorium.
Arizona claimed the top position with a tally of 161 points coming from national titles in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay. Auburn is 10 points behind at 151, and defending national champion Georgia is third with 147 points.
The Lady Tigers picked up 12 points in the 200 free relay. LSU’s group of Katherine Noland, Colleen Bertirotti, Katie Gilmore and Heather Brand took 11th overall and third in the consolation final with a clocking of 1:31.59. The relay team earned a berth in the consolation final with a preliminary mark of 1:31.21 in the time trials Thursday morning.
Bertirotti also was LSU’s highest finisher in the 50 free. The junior, competing in her first NCAA meet, swam a time of 23.24 to take 45th overall. Gilmore was 52nd (23.39) and Noland was 53rd (24.10) after the preliminary heats. Gilmore’s clocking was the best of her career.
Brand swims her individual event on Friday in the 100 butterfly. The senior co-captain carries the 49th seed into the event. Six other events take place on Friday, beginning with time trials at 10 a.m. CST. A finals session follows at 6 p.m. CST.
2006 Women’s NCAA Championships
Gabrielsen Natatorium
Athens, Ga.
Team Scores (Day 1)
1. Arizona — 161
2. Auburn — 151
3. Georgia — 147
4. Stanford — 82
5. California — 79
6. Southern California — 78
7. Texas — 54
8. Wisconsin — 52
9. Southern Methodist — 50.5
10. Kentucky — 50
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21. LSU — 12
Friday’s Schedule of Events
Time trials begin at 10 a.m. CST. Finals begin at 6 p.m. CST.
200 Medley Relay
400 Individual Medley
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
3-Meter Diving