INDIANAPOLIS — Five LSU swimmers have qualified for the Women’s NCAA Championships, it was announced by the organization Friday morning.
The Women’s NCAA’s take place March 8-10, in Minneapolis, Minn.
Leading the way is sophomore Katie Gilmore, who will participate in six events during the three-day competition. Gilmore, a native of Loxley, Ala., is competing in her second straight NCAA meet after earning 2006 All-America honors in the 200 freestyle relay along with fellow qualifiers Katherine Noland and Colleen Bertirotti.
Gilmore is seeded 21st in the 50 free with her school-record time of 22.63, and she is ranked 54th in the 100 free with a clocking of 50.45. She will also be participating in the 100 backstroke (56.01).
Joining Gilmore is the 50 and 100 free is Noland and Bertirotti. Bertirotti is seeded 47th in the 50 free (23.02), while Noland is 58th in the 100 free (50.52). All three are slated to swim in the 200 and 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay.
Freshman Signe Larson joins the group in the 200 medley relay, which is seeded 18th with a time of 1:40.96.
Bertirotti, Gilmore, Noland and sophomore Sabrina Messmer carry the No. 16 seed into the 200 free relay (1:31.32). Messmer is making her first NCAA Championships’ appearance.
Three women’s divers are attempting to earn a berth to next weekend’s competition at the NCAA Zone B Diving Regional in Athens, Ga. The list of NCAA men’s qualifiers will be released next week.