There’s always a part of every swim fan at these team-scored meets that want one team to be in a runaway at the end; especially when that runaway is in favor of a team like Georgia, that has so much great potential in the meet’s last event.
What we’re saying is: Georgia’s lead allowed them to attack the 400 free relay without fear of reprisal for disqualification, and even though their relay starts were still relatively safe, they went after this one in the water.
When the wake had cleared, the Bulldogs wrapped with a 3:09.40 for a new U.S. Open Record, breaking the 3:09.88 set by Cal in 2009.
The Georgia splits were really quite amazing. (Below, as compared to Georgia).
| Georgia ’13 | Vreeland 48.20 | Van Landeghem 47.79 | Schmitt 47.16 | Romano 46.25 | 3:09.40 |
| Cal ’09 | Wilson 47.91 | Jensen 47.53 | Dagg 47.98 | Vollmer 46.46 | 3:09.88 |
Romano’s anchor split was really breathtaking. It at least equals in magnitude the 20.99 she split in a 50 free at SEC’s, and was faster even than Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace’s 48.36 anchor for Auburn’s 400 free relay last year.
Of the Georgia team, only Allison Schmitt was on the 2009 relay that was 4th-place to the old record holders from Georgia.
Arizona’s relay, it should be noted, with four Americans broke the old American Record of 3:10.77 held by Stanford. Megan Lafferty, Margo Geer, Kait Flederbach, and Monica Drake combined for a 3:10.63, including a 46.67 split for Geer and a 47.42 anchor for Drake.
Note: Georgia was ineligible for the American Record in the race, because van Landeghem is Canadian.
Gotta be the red suits….
I bet Cal takes this record back in the next 3 years with Franklin, Pelt on, Boots a, and Acker.
Put Megan Romano in the American relay team instead of Jessica Hardy if you want the gold medal next summer in Barcelona. With Missy Franklin, Lia Neal, Simone Manuel, Dana Vollmer and Margo Geer it could be a great team.
As impressive as that 46.25 was, Romano was actually 46.07 last year. She has to be the best female NCAA relay swimmer of all-time.
Ok, I had forgot that. But like most of swimmers she was more impressive last year. She had also swum 1.41.21 in the 200 free last year.
Excuse my English! I had forgotten that.
Is that the fastest relay split or has a woman ever broken 46 before? Franklin was 46 at sectionals, but be crazy to see next year if Cal could get closer to 3 minute barrier, or Georgia if Smoliga can go fast
Great finish to a great meet for Georgia. Way to en the college career for Romano. Wow.