Swimmers Smash School Records at Day 2 of NCAA Championships
Saturday, March 20, 2004 | Women's Swimming & Diving
In a meet that has seen World, American, U.S. Open and NCAA Records shattered, the No. 3 Florida Gators stand in fifth place with 171 points after day two of the 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.
“I'm really proud of our athletes,” Florida swimming head coach Gregg Troy said. “We had a good swim today, but we need to step it up. We're in the hunt for a third or a fourth place finish. It'll be close.”
Defending national champion Auburn holds the top spot with 399 points and Georgia is second with 278. Arizona (261), California (179.5) and Florida (171) round out the top five.
Florida earned 14 All-America honors Friday, bringing the Gators' two- day total to 25 All-America honors. Through the first two days of competition, Florida also has set the school record in the 200-meter individual medley, 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter freestyle relay, 400-meter medley relay, 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter breaststroke, 800- meter freestyle relay and 200-meter medley relay.
Florida made a big splash to begin the evening session, winning the consolation final in the 200-meter medley relay. The team of junior Maureen Farrell (Northridge, Calif.), sophomore Vipa Bernhardt (Bad Hersfeld, Germany), and seniors Jaime Ellis (Spring, Texas) and Chantal Gibney (Dublin, Ireland) swam a school-record time of 1:52.57. The time also is the 17th-fastest time in the world this year.
Bernhardt had the top Gator finish of the night as she finished fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke with the 14th fastest time in the world this year (1:07.08).
“It was almost two seconds off of my best time so it was really good,” Bernhardt said.
Senior Sara McLarty (DeLand, Fla.), who set the school record Friday morning in the prelims of the 400-meter individual medley, picked up her 13th career All-America honor as she finished fifth with a time of 4:38.47. McLarty's time is the 17th-fastest time in the world this year. Freshman Ashley Carusone earned her first All-America distinction (honorable mention) with her 15th-place finish (4:42.74) in the event.
“Sara McLarty has been sick some during the last few weeks and she still has done a great job for us,” Troy said.
The relay team of Gibney, McLarty, sophomore Mary Uhle (Sankt Ingbert, Germany) and Ellis picked up a fifth-place finish and All-America honors in the 800-meter freestyle relay with a school-record time of 7:57.90.
Two Gators picked up honorable mention All-America honors in the 200- meter freestyle as Uhle took 15th place (1:59.68) and Ellis took 16th (2:00.05).
“Jaime Ellis has done a great job,” Troy said. “She stepped up to the blocks six times yesterday and came back today and really swam well.”
Farrell set the school record in the 100-meter backstroke (1:00.36) en route to a runner-up finish in the consolation finals. Farrell earned honorable mention All-America for her efforts.
“Maureen is getting faster every time,” Troy said.
The Gators return to the pool Saturday morning for the third and final day of the NCAA Championships.
Florida's 2004 All-Americans Vipa Bernhardt (400 MR*, 100 breast, 200 MR*) Ashley Carusone (400 IM*) Jaime Ellis (200 FR, 200 IM, 400 MR*, 200 free*, 200 MR*, 800 FR) Maureen Farrell (200 FR, 400 MR*, 100 back*, 200 MR) Chantal Gibney (200 FR, 200 MR*, 800 FR) Rebecca Harper (400 MR*) Katie McCann (200 IM*) Sara McLarty (400 free, 400 IM, 800 FR) Mary Uhle (200 FR, 200 free*, 800 FR) *Honorable Mention Florida Results 200-meter medley relay 9. Farrell, Bernhardt, Ellis, Gibney 1:52.57 400-meter individual medley 5. Sara McLarty 4:38.47 15. Ashley Carusone 4:42.74 200-meter freestyle 15. Mary Uhle 1:59.68 16. Jaime Ellis 2:00.05 100-meter breaststroke 4. Vipa Bernhardt 1:07.08 100-meter backstroke 10. Maureen Farrell 1:00.36 800-meter freestyle relay 5. Gibney, McLarty, Uhle, Ellis 7:57.90
-UF-
