2024 WOMEN’S NCAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 20-23, 2024
- Gabrielsen Natatorium, Athens, Georgia
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Live Results
- SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
- Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
Finishing 3rd in the A final of the 500 freestyle was Anna Peplowski of Indiana. Peplowski touched in a 4:34.06. This was Peplowski’s first time swimming the event at NCAAs. She added the event to her lineup at midseason swimming a 4:38.29. She then was 2nd in the event at Big Tens in a 4:37.47. Tonight, she was three seconds faster. Peplowski’s swim might not have been a complete miss as she was 3rd but just in case your eyes were on Bella Sims, I’ve included it here.
In the B final, Katie Crom of Michigan and Hayden Miller of Texas A&M battled it out on the final 100 of the 500 free. Although the swims are probably less missed as they finished 1-2, both swam best times. Coming into the meet, Crom’s best time was a 4:37.24 , while Miller’s was a 4:39.16. Tonight, Crom won in a 4:36.27 while Miller swam a 4:36.60. Both times notably would have won the A final of the event a year ago.
Phoebe Bacon finished 5th in the 200 IM touching in a 1:53.16, a new best time for the Wisconsin senior. Bacon’s previous personal best was a 1:53.56 which she swam for 5th in the event at NCAAs a year ago. Her season best was a 1:54.29 from Big Tens.
Finishing in the middle of the A final of the 50 freestyle was Julia Dennis of Louisville. The sophomore was 5th overall, right in the sandwich between teammates Christiana Reganeuer and Gabi Albiero. Dennis finished in a best time of a 21.60, faster than her old best of a 21.68 that she swam last month at ACCs. Last year, Dennis just missed the A final as she swam a 21.73 in prelims for 9th.
Indiana fifth-year Ashley Turak swam a lifetime best out of the B final of the 50 free. She swam a 21.73, surpassing her old best time of a 21.81 that she swam for 10th place at NCAAs a year ago. Turak came into the meet with a season-best of a 21.89.
the more I sit on it, Lucy Bell’s 2IM is probably the swim of the night for me. It’s not as historic as the Walsh sisters swims, but girl dropped over 2 full seconds from her lifetime best, went from 16th seed to 4th place in a very quick field and dropped a disgusting 31.00 breast split that is the fastest breast split I think I’ve ever seen, as Leverenz’s 31.1 from 2012 is the fastest I’m aware of. And she isn’t even racing individual breaststroke at this meet because she’s a 4:03 IMer and 1:52 flyer.
Stanford is cooking again and Bell’s swim tonight both feels emblematic of that and indicative of some great performances to come.
Peplowski’s gonna be a huge factor this summer if her form now is any indication…
💯
It looks like she had the fastest final 50 of anyone.
She’s got a great shot at making the 800 FRR. I think her best was around 1:57.0 and she’s dropped about 1 second in SCY in the 200 and a lot more in the 500.