MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — LSU’s 200 freestyle relay team shattered a school record and won the consolation final, and freshman diver Rachel Ware earned honorable mention All-America honors to lead the Lady Tigers into a 14th-place tie after Day 1 of the 2007 Women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
LSU accumulated 21 points on Thursday, which tied host Minnesota in its own aquatics center. The Lady Tigers sit one point behind Arizona State and started out on a positive note toward their goal of a top-20 national finish. Arizona holds a 168-155 advantage on Auburn for first place.
“It was a great way to start with two more days to score,” said head coach Adam Schmitt. “We have a goal of a top-20 finish and got contributions from both our swimmers and divers.”
“It’s an exciting day for LSU swimming and diving,” added diving coach Doug Shaffer. “We have put ourselves in great position because everyone who has participated has scored.”
The Lady Tigers posted honorable mention All-America accolades in the 200 free relay for the second straight season. Sophomore Katie Gilmore, senior Colleen Bertirotti, sophomore Sabrina Messmer and sophomore Katherine Noland posted a school record in the prelims (1:30.57) and then bettered the clocking in winning the consolation final (1:29.69).
The mark, which placed the group ninth overall, broke the old record of 1:31.10 by nearly two seconds. That time was swam by Noland, Bertirotti, Gilmore and Heather Brand at the 2006 SEC Championships.
Gilmore, Bertirotti and Noland now become the first LSU swimmers in school history to earn multiple All-America honors in the 200 free relay.
“I am very proud of these girls because it has been a long, tough season,” said Schmitt. “I was proud of how they responded not only in the morning but in winning the consolation at night. We put it all together. They mature and grow as a team with every swim.”
Ware, the SEC Freshman Diver of the Year, placed 14th overall in the 1-meter competition with a final score of 323.90. She improved on her preliminary tally of 314.45.
“Her preliminary and consolation final were the two best performances of her career,” said Shaffer. “To perform at nationals like that against elite competition is very exciting.”
The top-16 finish bestowed All-America status for Ware in her first NCAA Championships. Ware was the second-highest scoring freshman in the event, and she becomes the first freshman diver to earn All-America honors since Ashley Culpepper did so in 1998.
Ware is the first LSU diver of any class to post a top-16 finish at NCAAs since Jessica Wantz was named an All-American in the 1-meter and 3-meter in 2004.
Senior Hali Saucier, also making her first NCAA appearance, finished 22nd in the morning prelims with a score of 292.10. Saucier carries her 3-meter strength into Friday’s competition.
“Hali had a good performance,” said Shaffer. “To finish 22nd at the NCAA Championships is the equivalent to performing and finishing in the top 10 percent of all collegiate divers in the nation.”
The Lady Tigers’ career-highs carried into the pool in individual events. Gilmore nearly qualified for the consolation final of the 50 free, placing 19th (22.67). Bertirotti posted a career-high clocking in finishing 38th (23.00), and Noland was 46th with a season-best time of 23.11.
“Colleen had a lifetime best and Katherine and Katie had solid times,” said Schmitt. “Katie nearly improved on her school record.”
Events continue at 11 a.m. Saturday with prelims of the 200 medley relay, 100 backstroke and 3-meter diving for LSU. Those who qualify for finals return to the pool at 7 p.m.
2007 Women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
Minnesota Aquatic Center
Minneapolis, Minn.
Team Standings (After Day 1)
1. Arizona — 168
2. Auburn — 155
3. Stanford — 123.5
4. California — 98
5. Georgia — 86
6. Texas A&M — 82.5
7. Florida — 61
8. Michigan — 57
9. Texas — 54
Kentucky — 54
11. Tennessee — 45
12. Indiana — 36
13. Arizona State — 22
14. LSU — 21
Minnesota — 21
Friday’s Schedule of Events
Preliminaries (11 a.m.)
200 medley relay
400 individual medley
100 butterfly
200 freestyle
100 breaststroke
100 backstroke
1 p.m
3-meter diving
Finals (7 p.m.)
200 medley relay
400 individual medley
100 butterfly
200 freestyle
100 breaststroke
100 backstroke
3-meter diving (finals)
800 freestyle relay