BATON ROUGE — The No. 23 LSU Women’s Swimming and Diving Team wrapped up the first day of competition at the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Martin Aquatics Center in Auburn, Ala.
“It is a three day meet and we certainly have some opportunities to do things the rest of the meet,” Swimming Coach Dave Geyer said. “We came to the meet a little shorthanded, unfortunately, but the focus is on the women that are here. We are looking for them to compete to the highest ability.”
The 200 free style relay consisting of freshman Amber Carter, freshman Marlene Niemi, sophomore Rainey White and Samantha Goates finished in 19th with a mark of 1:29.97.
“As a staff, we want success for the girls who have made a commitment and sacrifices for the past year. Unfortunately, we were a little off in that relay. There was a lot of youth on that relay. Leading off with a freshman, having a freshman go second and a sophomore third, it definitely is a good sign for the future of the program.”
Freshman diver Alex Bettridge cranked out a six-dive total of 280.90 in a 24th place finish on the one-meter springboard.
“This is a completely different meet, and we talked about that coming into this meet,” Diving Coach Doug Shaffer said. “Her performance was going to have to be at a higher level. I am no way disappointed in her debut at the NCAA Championships. As one of three freshman in the women’s diving field at the women’s championship, that puts her in an elite group all together.”
Sophomore Torrey Bussey ended her 200 individual medley run with a time of 2:00.70.
Three Lady Tigers competed in the 50 free. Niemi wrapped up her swim with a time of 23.04, Goates registered a mark of 23.05 and freshman Amber Carter notched a mark of 23.44.
LSU will compete in the 200 medley relay, 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and the three-meter dive in day two of the competition.
At the SEC Championships, Bettridge recorded a bronze medal finish (336.85) on the three-meter springboard, shattering the program’s three-meter record.
Junior Sara Haley will swim in the 100 fly tomorrow. The El Dorado Hills, Calif. native owns the program’s third lowest 100 fly mark of 53.17, which she set during her sophomore season at the SEC Championships.
At the SEC Championships, Bussey captured the ‘B’ Final of the 100 breast with the program’s second best mark of 1:01.00.
Carter has improved in the 100 fly through out the season and posted the 10th fastest preliminary mark (54.01) at the SEC Championships, which is eighth best in the program. She finished the event in 15th with a mark of 54.43.
Auburn is streaming live video, free of charge, the preliminary sessions during each of the three days and finals on Thursday night. ESPN has the rights to stream Friday and Saturday finals and will do so at ESPN3.com
Friday Prelims:
http://ulive.cbssports.com/index-ncaa.html?media=303038
Saturday Prelims:
http://ulive.cbssports.com/index-ncaa.html?media=303039
After each session, results will be available through this link: http://www.ncaa.com/championships/swimming-women/d1
The Official NCAA DI Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships program will be available soon at www.ncaa.com/DIWomensSwimDive.
For more information on the LSU Swimming and Diving program, please visit LSUSports.net, follow @LSUSwimDive on Twitter or ‘like’ LSU Swimming and Diving on Facebook.