One of the interesting things we noted from the Division I pre-selection psych sheets released by the NCAA this morning is that Stanford sophomore Janet Hu has a completely different event lineup this year than she did in 2015.
As a freshman last year, Hu entered the 50 free, 100 fly, and 200 fly at the Division I Championships, after having swum the same three events at the 2015 Pac-12 Conference Championships. She only scored in one of those events at NCAAs, however: 100 fly. Even without star sprinter Simone Manuel, who is redshirting this season to prepare for Trials, the Cardinal squad is deeper this year than last. That gives head coach Greg Meehan even more flexibility with his lineup. While Hu swam 50 free and 100 fly (exhibition) at 2016 Pac-12 Championships last weekend, she was strongest in the 100 back and 200 back and clocked lifetime bests in both events.
It took 21.97 to make the A final and 22.14 to make the B final in the 50 free at 2015 NCAAs. With Lia Neal already under 22 this season, Stanford has a strong entrant in the event. Hu is Stanford’s fastest 200 backstroker and second-fastest (to classmate Ally Howe) 100 backstroker; they both come in with top-8 times in both events. Hu is Stanford’s top 100 butterflier as well, having gone a lifetime-best 51.27 exhibitioning at Pac-12s last weekend.
50 Free
| Meet | Seed | Prelims | Finals (2015 NCAA A/B = 21.97/22.14) |
| 2016 Pac-12 | 22.02 | 22.11 | 22.27 |
| 2015 NCAA | 22.08 | 22.34 | N/A (29th) |
| 2015 Pac-12 | 22.08 | 22.29 | 22.13 |
100 Fly
| Meet | Seed | Prelims | Finals (2015 NCAA A/B = 51.86/52.17) |
| 2016 Pac-12 | 51.71 | 51.27 | N/A |
| 2015 NCAA | 51.93 | 51.90 | 52.01 (11th) |
| 2015 Pac-12 | 52.07 | 52.08 | 51.93 |
200 Fly
| Meet | Seed | Prelims | Finals (2015 NCAA A/B = 1:54.93/1:55.62) |
| 2015 NCAA | 1:55.31 | 1:56.22 | N/A (23rd) |
| 2015 Pac-12 | 1:55.31 | 1:56.47 | 1:56.42 |
100 Back
| Meet | Seed | Prelims | Finals (2015 NCAA A/B = 51.73/52.21) |
| 2016 Pac-12 | 51.45 | 51.18 | 51.14 |
200 Back
| Meet | Seed | Prelims | Finals (2015 NCAA A/B = 1:52.25/1:53.45) |
| 2016 Pac-12 | 1:52.17 | 1:50.48 | 1:51.46 |
Good move in MO