Olivia Smoliga Breaks 50 Free NCAA Record

2016 WOMEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, March 16 – Saturday, March 19
• McAuley Aquatic Center – Atlanta, GA
• Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
• Defending Champion: Cal – Results
• Championships Central
• SwimSwam Link Sheet
• Live stream: All prelims, Wednesday finals, & Thursday finals (Other sessions will be on ESPN3)
• Live results

On day 2 of the 2016 women’s NCAA Champonships, Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga roared to an NCAA title in the women’s 50 free, setting a new NCAA record with a 21.21. That swim also put her within a tenth of the American and U.S. Open records, which were set at 21.12 by Abbey Weitzeil earlier this month.

That swim made Smoliga the 2nd fastest performer of all time in the 50 yard freestyle. With that, 5 of the 6 fastest 50 freestyles ever have been done by an American within the last 12 months. Things are looking good for American women’s sprinting.

Top 10 swims all-time (any level):

1. Abbey Weitzeil, 2016 – 21.12
2. Olivia Smoliga, 2016 – 21.21
3. Lara Jackson, 2009 – 21.27
4. Abbey Weitzeil, 2016 – 21.28
5. Simone Manuel, 2015 – 21.32
6. Farida Osman, 2016 – 21.32
7. Lara Jackson, 2008 – 21.33
8. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, 2011 – 21.34
9. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, 2012 – 21.35
10. Lara Jackson, 2009 – 21.36

This wasn’t Smoliga’s first NCAA title in the 50 free. She was also the champion in 2014 with a 21.59. Her best time coming into the meet was a 21.54 from 2014 SECs, so she shaved over 3 tenths off her best to reclaim her individual NCAA 50 free title tonight.

For a full recap of Thursday finals, click here.