Notes
2008 Women's Swimming and Diving Championships
March 20, 2008
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Day 1 Meet Notes
Auburn started off the night by breaking a six-year-old school record, finishing fourth in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:28.79
The team of Ava Ohlgren, Kara Denby, Emily Kukors and Emile Ewing broke the record formerly held by Becky Short, Maggie Bowen, Cassidy Maxwell and Eileen Coparropa (1:28.92), set in 2002
The third-place finish in the 200 free relay is the best for Auburn since finishing third back-to-back in 2005 and 2006
Sophomore Maggie Bird swam a career-best 4:39.51 in the 500 free to finish second behind Caroline Burckle and her NCAA-record time of 4:33.60; Bird's time is fast enough for second all-time at Auburn
Her time is behind Adrienne Binder's 4:36.96 that she swam as she won the event last year
From Maggie Bird: "It was really exciting. I've wanted to break 4:40 for a long time and it felt great to go out and do it. I went out a little soft this morning in the preliminary. Dorsey and I talked about it this afternoon and decided go to out a little stronger and that's what I did."
Bird finished eighth in prelims, taking the last spot in the final, and moved up to second in the evening session
Sophomore Ava Ohlgren gave Auburn its first individual title, winning the 200 IM with a time of 1:53.94; missing the NCAA and Auburn record time of 1:53.91, held by Maggie Bowen
The 200 IM title is the fifth all-time for Auburn in the event and the first since Kirsty Coventry won it in 2005 with a time of 1:54.37.
Ohlgren's time in the 200 IM set a new pool record at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
From Ava Ohlgren: "It felt great, really smooth and it was just awesome. I'm so excited! I missed the record by .03, but, oh well, I'll get it next year."
Senior Emily Kukors finished third in the event with a time of 1:55.28, finishing two-tenths of a second behind her younger sister Ariana Kukors of the University of Washington (1:55.26)
Kara Denby led Auburn in the 50 free, finishing seventh (22.14), her best finish ever in the event
Her seventh-place finish is the best for Auburn since Jana Kolukanova finished fifth in 2005
Auburn swam its fastest 400 medley relay of the season, coming in at 3:32.84 to finish second behind Arizona, who won with a time of 3:29.06 setting a new NCAA, American and U.S. Open record
From Emily Kukors: "I was pretty confident that the girls had set me up well for that last leg and it was just my job to go out and finish. Arizona had a great start on the relay and I had to chase and get my hand on as quick as possible to score as many points for the team as we could."
Margo McCawley's 52.94 100-yard backstroke leadoff in the 400 medley relay is the second-fastest for Auburn this season; just behind the 52.74 she swam at SECs
Auburn's runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay is the best for the Tigers since winning it in 2003
Auburn is in second place after the first day for the fourth year in a row: The Tigers have finished the first day in second place for the past four years, sitting three points behind Arizona in 2007, 10 points behind Arizona in 2006 and 74 points behind Georgia in 2005
Arizona has led after the first day each of the past three years
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