University of Georgia Athletics
Saturday, March 23
Athens, Ga.
10 a.m. (Prelims) | 3:45 p.m. (Mile Heats) | 6 p.m. (Finals)
University of Georgia
vs
NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships
Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
McCulloh Wins National Title in Mile; Bulldogs Finish 13th at NCAAs
March 23, 2024 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
ATHENS, Ga. – With a pool record time of 15:37.74, junior Abby McCulloh won the NCAA championship in the 1,650-yard freestyle before a packed crowd Saturday on the final day of competition at the 2024 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships at the Bauerle Pool at Gabrielsen Natatorium.
McCulloh led wire-to-wire as she became the Bulldogs' first NCAA champion since Brittany MacLean and Olivia Smoliga won three individual titles in 2016, closing the race with splits of 28.22 and 27.36 on her final two laps. The Lilburn native was the seventh mile champion in program history and marked the 48th different women's athlete to win a championship (154 overall). Her new personal-best time now ranks second in program history and helped secured the program's 12th NCAA title won inside Gabrielsen Natatorium (1999, 2006).
"My team has really just gotten me to where I am, and it makes me so emotional because I have the best staff, the best teammates," McCulloh said following the race.
"Even if I don't have the most confidence myself, God has blessed me with the most amazing people around me to give me that confidence."
Powered by McCulloh's performance, Georgia finished in 13th place with 116 points, improving from last year's 90-point, 16th-place finish. For the week, the Bulldogs earned 24 All-America citations, including eight First Team honors. Virginia won its fourth-consecutive team national championship with 527.50 points, followed by Texas in second with 441 and Florida in third at 364.
In the 200y breaststroke finals, fifth-year Zoie Hartman finished 12th with a time of 2:07.72 before joining freshman Helena Jones, junior Briana Roberson, and senior Sloane Reinstein to finish 13th in the 400y freestyle with a time of 3:12.30. Jones led off the relay with a personal-best time of 47.93, while Hartman closed out at 47.85 to finish her Georgia career. With the two All-America citations, Hartman concluded her time in Athens with 31 honors, setting a new program record.
In other action Saturday, juniors Rachel Stege and Duné Coetzee narrowly missed All-America accolades in the 1,650y freestyle, finishing 17th and 18th respectively. Jones placed 35th in the 100y freestyle with a time of 48.31, followed by Reinstein in 43rd with a season-best 48.64.
The Georgia men's team begins its national championships this Wednesday, March 27 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, with 14 members of the Bulldogs' team competing against the nation's best.
For all news and updates about Georgia swimming and diving, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@UGASwimDive), Instagram (@ugaswimdive), and Facebook (UGA Swimming and Diving).
STANDINGS
1. Virginia, 527.50
2. Texas, 441
3. Florida, 364
4. Tennessee, 277
5. Stanford, 250
6. Louisville, 212
7. Indiana, 206
8. USC, 200
T9. NC State, 162
T9. Ohio State, 162
13. Georgia, 116
RESULTS
1,650y Freestyle
1. Abby McCulloh, Georgia – 15:37.74
2. Aurora Roghair, Stanford – 15:41.11
3. Ching Hwee Gan, Indiana – 15:46.90
200y Backstroke
1. Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin – 1:48.23
2. Kennedy Noble, NC State – 1:48.43
3. Bella Sims, Florida – 1:48.47
100y Freestyle
1. Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 44.83
2. Katharine Berkoff, NC State – 46.23
3. Isabel Ivey, Florida – 46.67
200y Breaststroke
1. Alex Walsh, Virginia – 2:02.07
2. Mona McSharry, Tennessee – 2:04.07
3. Ella Nelson, Virginia – 2:04.80
12. Zoie Hartman, Georgia – 2:07.72
200y Butterfly
1. Emma Sticklen, Texas – 1:50.99
2. Kelly Pash, Texas – 1:51.57
3. Rachel Klinker, California – 1:51.62
Platform Diving
1. Viviana Del Angel, Minnesota – 327.90
2. Montserrat Lavenant, LSU – 304.70
3. Jordan Skilken, Texas – 293.60
400y Freestyle Relay
1. Virginia – 3:05.89
2. Florida – 3:08.60
3. Louisville – 3:09.08
13. Georgia – 3:12.30
McCulloh led wire-to-wire as she became the Bulldogs' first NCAA champion since Brittany MacLean and Olivia Smoliga won three individual titles in 2016, closing the race with splits of 28.22 and 27.36 on her final two laps. The Lilburn native was the seventh mile champion in program history and marked the 48th different women's athlete to win a championship (154 overall). Her new personal-best time now ranks second in program history and helped secured the program's 12th NCAA title won inside Gabrielsen Natatorium (1999, 2006).
"My team has really just gotten me to where I am, and it makes me so emotional because I have the best staff, the best teammates," McCulloh said following the race.
"Even if I don't have the most confidence myself, God has blessed me with the most amazing people around me to give me that confidence."
Powered by McCulloh's performance, Georgia finished in 13th place with 116 points, improving from last year's 90-point, 16th-place finish. For the week, the Bulldogs earned 24 All-America citations, including eight First Team honors. Virginia won its fourth-consecutive team national championship with 527.50 points, followed by Texas in second with 441 and Florida in third at 364.
In the 200y breaststroke finals, fifth-year Zoie Hartman finished 12th with a time of 2:07.72 before joining freshman Helena Jones, junior Briana Roberson, and senior Sloane Reinstein to finish 13th in the 400y freestyle with a time of 3:12.30. Jones led off the relay with a personal-best time of 47.93, while Hartman closed out at 47.85 to finish her Georgia career. With the two All-America citations, Hartman concluded her time in Athens with 31 honors, setting a new program record.
In other action Saturday, juniors Rachel Stege and Duné Coetzee narrowly missed All-America accolades in the 1,650y freestyle, finishing 17th and 18th respectively. Jones placed 35th in the 100y freestyle with a time of 48.31, followed by Reinstein in 43rd with a season-best 48.64.
The Georgia men's team begins its national championships this Wednesday, March 27 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, with 14 members of the Bulldogs' team competing against the nation's best.
For all news and updates about Georgia swimming and diving, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@UGASwimDive), Instagram (@ugaswimdive), and Facebook (UGA Swimming and Diving).
STANDINGS
1. Virginia, 527.50
2. Texas, 441
3. Florida, 364
4. Tennessee, 277
5. Stanford, 250
6. Louisville, 212
7. Indiana, 206
8. USC, 200
T9. NC State, 162
T9. Ohio State, 162
13. Georgia, 116
RESULTS
1,650y Freestyle
1. Abby McCulloh, Georgia – 15:37.74
2. Aurora Roghair, Stanford – 15:41.11
3. Ching Hwee Gan, Indiana – 15:46.90
200y Backstroke
1. Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin – 1:48.23
2. Kennedy Noble, NC State – 1:48.43
3. Bella Sims, Florida – 1:48.47
100y Freestyle
1. Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 44.83
2. Katharine Berkoff, NC State – 46.23
3. Isabel Ivey, Florida – 46.67
200y Breaststroke
1. Alex Walsh, Virginia – 2:02.07
2. Mona McSharry, Tennessee – 2:04.07
3. Ella Nelson, Virginia – 2:04.80
12. Zoie Hartman, Georgia – 2:07.72
200y Butterfly
1. Emma Sticklen, Texas – 1:50.99
2. Kelly Pash, Texas – 1:51.57
3. Rachel Klinker, California – 1:51.62
Platform Diving
1. Viviana Del Angel, Minnesota – 327.90
2. Montserrat Lavenant, LSU – 304.70
3. Jordan Skilken, Texas – 293.60
400y Freestyle Relay
1. Virginia – 3:05.89
2. Florida – 3:08.60
3. Louisville – 3:09.08
13. Georgia – 3:12.30
Players Mentioned
Breast / IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
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