EARLIER COVERAGE
- Day 4 prelims recap
- Day 3 finals recap
- Day 4 Ups/Downs
- Day 4 Scoring Projections
- Day 4 Prelims photo vault
There’s just one day left of the Women’s NCAA Championships, and our annual Pick ‘Em Contest is almost as wide open as the race for the NCAA title.
Following last night’s action, tfronayne has moved into the lead after sitting third through day 2. Tfronayne correctly predicted winners in 5 of 6 events on Friday, missing only the 200 free, where Georgia’s Brittany MacLean was an unexpected winner by the Pick ‘Em contest entrants’ standards: MacLean received just two winner picks in that event, or about 0.7% of the total winner selections.
The Current Top 5
Rank | Display Name | Total Score |
1 | tfronayne | 150 |
2 | Rich | 141 |
3 | Christopher Watson | 140 |
4 | IDK | 139 |
4 | LNEIDIGHSwimSwam | 139 |
Day 3 was one of the more predictable days for the majority of entrants. Kelsi Worrell‘s 100 fly and Lilly King‘s 100 breast were the most agreed-upon event winners based on the picks, and neither disappointed.
But a number of voters were tripped up in the 100 back and 200 free. MacLean’s win, as noted above, wasn’t predicted by many voters at all, and despite Rachel Bootsma being a two-time NCAA champ in the 100 back, the majority of pickers selected Courtney Bartholomew to pick up that win instead.
The final day has mostly consensus as to event winners. King is heavily favored in the 200 breast (91% picked her) and Leah Smith is favored to take the 1650 (87.7%), though MacLean could have an outside chance at another upset. Only 72.9% expected Worrell to take the 200 fly, which looks like a solid bet after this morning, and Bartholomew and Lia Neal are favored by voters in the 200 back and 100 free.