University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia's Schmitt Wins 500 Freestyle At NCAA Championships
March 19, 2010 | Swimming & Diving
Competing at Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Center, Georgia rolled up 134 points on the opening day of competition. Stanford grabbed the initial lead with 142.5 points.
Schmitt, a sophomore from Canton, Mich., paced Georgia's efforts on the first day as she captured the 500 freestyle crown. Schmitt stopped the clock in 4:34.13, more than three seconds ahead of California's Lauren Boyle (4:37.18). Schmitt lowered her own school record of 4:35.17 and shattered the Boilermaker Aquatic Center mark of 4:37.11 set by Arizona's Emily Mason in 2005.
"We had some great racing in the 500," Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. "What Allison did was quite an accomplishment. The strategy was to go out fast and not look back, and that's exactly what she did. She's a great person to have on your team. She's such a great competitor, and she really cares about her team."
Schmitt led a Georgia surge in the championship final as she placed first, Wendy Trott (4:37.50) took third and Chelsea Nauta came in fifth (4:37.82). At last month's Southeastern Conference Championships, Trott, Schmitt and Nauta went 1-2-3, respectively.
"It's really exciting," said Schmitt, who won last year's NCAA title in the 500 free in 4:35.43. "I just went out there and raced trying to win it for Georgia. I knew that there were two other girls representing Georgia and we were just trying to go put and do the best we can."
Morgan Scroggy placed third in the 200 individual medley as she touched in 1:54.62, lowering her own school record of 1:55.56. Jana Mangimelli came in 14th with a time of 1:57.53.
Anne-Marie Botek finished third in the 50 freestyle as she posted a time of 22.14.
Hannah Moore checked in at 14th on the 1-meter springboard as she rolled up 292.30 points.
The 200 freestyle relay team of Botek, Scroggy, Megan Romano and Courtney Monsees came in seventh with a time of 1:29.43. The 400 medley relay of Romano, Michelle McKeehan, Lisa Caprioglio and Scroggy recorded a time of 3:34.02 to place eighth.
The NCAA Championships will continue on Friday. The teams are slated to compete in the 400 individual medley, the 100 butterfly, the 200 freestyle, the 100 breaststroke, the 100 backstroke, 3-meter diving and the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. Live video streaming and results can be found at purduesports.com.
"You can already tell it's going to be one heck of a meet," Bauerle said. "Friday morning is going to be very important in terms of setting up Friday night, plus I think we will be pretty darn good in the 800 free relay Friday night. In this meet, every point counts."