ATLANTA – A record eleven members of the LSU women’s swimming and diving team are set to compete at the 2016 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships March 16-19 at Georgia Tech’s McAuley Aquatic Center.
“We are excited to be in Atlanta and have the opportunity to race in a world-class facility that was the home of the 1996 Olympics,” LSU swimming coach Dave Geyer said. “The past few seasons we’ve been able to get to this meet a little higher in our seeds and there is a certain want to make those scoring opportunities this week. The biggest thing for us to do is be ourselves and not get caught in the moment. This group of women knows that’s how they execute at their highest level.”
Competition begins at 5 p.m. CT Wednesday with the 800 freestyle relay. The first full day of the championships begins Thursday. Preliminary heats begin each day at 9 a.m. CT, while finals are set for 5 p.m. CT. NCAA.com will stream each prelim session as well as Thursday’s finals. Friday and Saturday finals will be available on WatchESPN.com.
Swimmers Kara Kopcso, Leah Troskot, Colleen O’Neil, Taryn MacKenzie and Danielle Stirrat qualified individually for the championships. In addition to the automatic qualifiers, seniors Megan Cox and Caley Oquist along with freshman Haylee Knight will compete at NCAA’s as relay participants.
Kopcso leads the way for LSU with her third NCAA automatic qualification. The junior owns the eighth-fastest 200 fly, 18th-best 100 fly and 20th-best 200 IM time in the country. At SEC Championships last month, Kopcso set the school record in the 100 and 200 fly. Her time of 1:54.46 was enough for fourth in the conference.
This is Troskot’s second NCAA berth. The junior reached the championship final of the 50 and 100 free at SEC’s. She set the second-fastest 100 free time and third-fastest 50 free time in school history at the conference meet.
Stirrat finished eighth at SEC’s in the 200 free with a time of 1:45.72, which sits second on LSU’s top time list. The senior will compete in the event as the 33rd seed.
O’Neil became the second swimmer in the history of the LSU women’s team to go under a minute in the 100 breast. The junior has a chance at a second swim as the 17 seed in the 100 breast.
MacKenzie rounds out the group of individual swimmers invited to the championships. The senior’s time of 1:00.63 is enough for fourth on the top times list. MacKenzie finished 10th in the event at SEC’s.
In addition to the individual swims, LSU will also take part in the medley relays along with the 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
Last week at the Zone ‘D’ Diving Regional, Cassie Weil, Madison Sthamann and Lizzie Cui qualified for NCAA’s. Weil leads the way for the Lady Tigers with her fourth NCAA appearance. The five-time All American earned bids on three-meter and platform after finishing third in the final of both events during qualification.
This is Sthamann’s second appearance at NCAA Championships. The sophomore finished as an honorable mention All-American last season on platform and once again qualified for the event.
Cui will compete on one-meter and three-meter over the course of the three-day meet. The freshman has burst on to the scene since making her way to Baton Rouge in January. Cui carries a wealth of international experience to Atlanta, most recently competing at the FINA Diving World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in mid-February.
“I think the big thing going into this year is the wealth of experience we carry into the meet,” LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer said. Although it is Lizzie’s first shot at NCAA’s, she has so much international elite-level experience that will obviously fuel her. It is new but there is no doubt that she will rise to the occasion. Cassie and Madison both have experience now. We know what to expect and our goals are high.”
A full recap will be available on lsusports.net at the conclusion of each day. For more information and updates on LSU Swimming and Diving please visit LSUsports.net, ‘like’ us on Facebook at LSU Swimming and Diving or follow us on Twitter @LSUswimdive.
Order of Events
Thursday
Prelims – 9 a.m.
Diving Trials – 1-meter – 11:30 a.m.
15 minutes following trials – 1-meter diving consolation final
Finals – 5 p.m.
200 Freestyle Relay Consolation
200 Free Relay Final
500 Free Consolation
500 Free Final
200 IM Consolation
200 IM Final
50 Free Consolation
50 Free Final
1-meter Diving Final
400 Medley Relay Consolation
400 Medley Relay Final
Friday
Prelims – 9 a.m.
Diving Trials – 3-meter – 11:15 a.m.
15 minutes following trails – 3-meter diving consolation final
Finals – 5 p.m.
400 IM Consolation
400 IM Final
100 Butterfly Consolation
100 Fly Final
200 Free Consolation
200 Free Final
100 Breaststroke Consolation
100 Breast Final
100 Backstroke Consolation
100 Back Final
3-meter Diving Final
200 Medley Relay Consolation
200 Medley Relay Final
Saturday
Prelims – 9 a.m.
Platform Diving Trials – 11:15 a.m.
15 minutes following trials – platform consolation final
3:45 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. – freestyle early heats begin
4:50 p.m. – Free last heat of timed finals
Finals – 5 p.m.
200 Back Consolation
200 Back Final
100 Free Consolation
100 Free Final
200 Breast Consolation
200 Breast Final
200 Butterfly Consolation
200 Fly Final
Platform Diving Final
400 Free Relay Consolation
400 Free Relay Final
Team Awards