Olivia Smoliga highlighted Georgia’s efforts with a record-setting performance during the NCAA Championships on Thursday at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the Georgia Tech campus.
After the second night of competition, the Lady Bulldogs leads the meet with 174 points. California sits in second with 144.5 points, followed by Southern California (121.5), Texas A&M (118) and Virginia (110.5).
“I’m stunned with today,” Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. “We thought we would be in maybe fourth or fifth place if we swam well, but we swam exceedingly well. Very rarely do you outdo what you think you can, but we did it today.”
Smoliga won the 50 freestyle in 21.21, setting a new NCAA and pool record and bettering her own school mark. The previous NCAA record was 21.27 and was held by Arizona’s Lara Jackson.
“The 50 is just a start, a turn and a finish,” Smoliga siad. “A lot of the time, it’s a crapshoot but I’m happy that I came out on top.”
The 200 freestyle relay comprised of Smoliga, Kylie Stewart, Meaghan Raab and Emily Cameron earned a third-place trophy in 1:27.53.
Brittany MacLean led the charge for Georgia in the 500 freestyle, finishing second in 4:33.05. Hali Flickinger finished third in 4:33.35 and Stephanie Peters claimed 16th in 4:41.21.
Olivia Ball earned seventh in the 1-meter springboard finals, posting a final score of 317.50.
Smoliga, Cameron, Stewart and Flickinger came together for fourth in the 400 medley relay, reaching the wall in 3:29.54.
Cameron moved up to third in the UGA record books in the 200 individual medley, finishing 11th in 1:55.50.
Former Georgia swimming and diving greats Mark Dylla and Kara Lynn Joyce were among the distinguished award presenters. Dylla presented the 200 freestyle relay awards and Joyce presented the 50 freestyle awards.
The NCAAs will continue on Friday with the 400 individual medley, the 100 butterfly, the 200 freestyle, the 100 breaststroke, the 100 backstroke, the 3-meter springboard and the 200 medley relay. Live video and results from prelims can be found at RamblinWreck.com. Finals will be shown on ESPN3.