2018 NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
- Dates: Wednesday, March 21 – Saturday, March 24
- Swimming: prelims 10am, finals 6pm
- Location: IU Natatorium, Indianapolis, Indiana (Eastern Time Zone)
- Defending Champions: Emory (x8) (results)
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Women’s 800 Yard Freestyle Relay – Fastest Heat
- NCAA Record: 7:14.98 3/17/2017, Emory (Muir, Wawer, Bergh, Cheng)
The Emory quartet of juniors Fiona Muir and Meg Taylor and seniors Julia Wawer and Cindy Cheng lowered the NCAA Division III Record in the 4×200 freestyle relay by 1.47 seconds on Friday night, swimming to victory in 7:13.51. Giving chase the whole way were the Ladies of Kenyon College who finished second in 7:15.99. Both Emory and Kenyon had 3 A-finalists and 1 B-finalist in the 200 free individual event on Thursday, so it was no surprise where the battle lines would be drawn.
Emory got off to a strong start with Muir’s 1:48.77 leadoff. She handed off to Wawer with a 2.4-second lead over Kenyon, whose Abby Wilson had opened with 1:51.19. Emory increased its lead during the second leg, with Wawer out-splitting Kenyon sophomore Kendall Vanderhoof, 1:48.59 to 1:49.79. Kenyon freshman Crile Hart swam the quickest leg in the field on the third 200, making up some of the deficit by beating Taylor, 1:47.08 to 1:48.89. Cheng brought it home for the Eagles with 1:47.26, leaving no chance for Hannah Orbach-Mandel (1:47.93) to catch her.
Emory had owned the record of 7:14.98 since last year’s NCAAs. The record-breaking foursomes were as follows:
| 2018 NCAAs | 7:13.51 | 2017 NCAAs | 7:14.98 |
| Fiona Muir | 1:48.77 | Fiona Muir | 1:47.84 |
| Julia Wawer | 1:48.59 | Julia Wawer | 1:50.15 |
| Meg Taylor | 1:48.89 | Marissa Bergh | 1:50.04 |
| Cindy Cheng | 1:47.26 | Cindy Cheng | 1:46.95 |