The most elite women in college swimming earned a spot at this week’s NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas. After teams across the country wrapped up individual conference championships, the NCAA selected the athletes with the fastest times in each event to send to the national championships.
Virginia (9-1, 5-0 ACC) — which won the ACC title last weekend — will be represented by 12 swimmers, four of whom will be making their NCAA Championships debut. Sophomores Ellie Freeman and Kristen Moores, along with freshman Lauren Smart and junior Katherine McDonnell, will experience college swimming’s most important event for the first time.
These four women will swim alongside seniors Megan Evo and Kristen Wallace; juniors Jenna Harris, Mei Christensen, Katherine McDonnell and Jen Narum; and sophomores Claire Crippen, Hannah Davis and Liz Shaw.
Virginia coach Mark Bernardino usually emphasizes having strong relay performances, and this focus could pay off on the national level for the qualifying Virginia athletes. Christensen, Wallace, McDonnell and Shaw earned automatic representation in the 200 medley relay because of their exceptional times in the event.
At last year’s championships, the Cavaliers finished 20th with 50 points, aided by Shaw’s fourth-place overall finish in the 200 fly.
The NCAA Championships begin today and run through Saturday at Texas A&M’s Student Rec Center Natatorium.
—compiled by Chloe Newschwander
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