The Emory University women's swimming & diving team made its way back into the pool following the shutdown stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and maintained its stay atop of the NCAA Division III swimming & diving world, putting up another banner season during the 2021-22 campaign.
The Eagles sent 18 swimmers and two divers to Indianapolis to compete for the program's 11th straight national championship in mid-March. In what turned into a national championship meet for the ages, Emory and Kenyon College battled all the way through to the last event however it was the Ladies that hoisted the trophy at the conclusion of the four days of competition. Kenyon outlasted the Eagles by a mere seven points, the closest NCAA meet in Division III history, to deny Emory of another national crown.
Over the course of the four days of action, the Eagles were highlighted by national championships in two events: Taylor Leone in the 50 Freestyle and the 400 Freestyle Relay of Leone, Cailen Chinn, Caroline Maki and Zoe Walker, as well as national runner-up performances by Clio Hancock in 200 Butterfly, Megan Jungers in the 200 Backstroke and in the 200 Medley, 400 Medley and 200 Freestyle relays. Emory collected 19 All-America and 13 All-America Honorable Mention honors at the meet and established four new school records.
Five different swimmers totaled four or more All-America honors at the meet with Leone reaching in the podium in all seven events she swam in. Hancock, who was an All-American in four events, was the recipient of the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award during the week, making her the second-ever student-athlete to receive the award in Emory Athletics history.
A month earlier the Eagles continued their dominance in the University Athletic Association, winning the program's 23rd consecutive conference title and 29th overall in the 34-year history of the UAA meet. Emory totaled 14 event titles, 34 All-UAA finishes while setting meet records in seven events. Across the four days of action, the Eagles secured 2,128 points, the most in a UAA meet since 2011 and the second-most points in a single meet in team history, while outgaining second place Chicago by nearly 600 points.
Leone was the standout performer of the meet as she became the latest Eagle to be named the conference's Swimmer of the Year. Leone was an event champion in six of the seven events she competed in and rewrote the conference record book in five events: 50 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Medley Relay.
Jungers added some hardware as she was the recipient of the Sophomore Rookie of the Year, an award given to a swimmer that missed out on competing in UAA competition the year prior due to the pandemic. Jungers was a UAA champion in three events including the 200 Backstroke, finished as an All-UAA performer in five events, and helped set UAA meet records in the 200 and 400 Medley Relays.
In addition, Head Coach Jon Howell and his staff of Cindy Fontana, John Petroff and Bob Hackett were tabbed as the Coaching Staff of the Year, representing the 12th time Howell and his staff has earned the women's award.
Several Eagles were also recognized throughout the year for the academic excellence, highlighted by 14 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team selections as well as three swimmers being named Emory 100 Senior Honorary: Hancock, Walker, Grace Morris. In June, Hancock became the latest swimmer to earn Academic All-America recognition as she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team.
The Eagles earned the following honors during the 2021-22 season:
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NCAA Division III Champion |
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Lafayette, CO (Fairview) |
400 Freestyle Relay |
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Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby) |
50 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay |
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Chester Springs, PA (Downington Stem Academy) |
400 Freestyle Relay |
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Lilburn, GA (Parkview) |
400 Freestyle Relay |
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All-America (Top-Eight Finisher at NCAA Division III Championships) |
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Jacksonville, FL (The Bolles School) |
200 Medley Relay (2nd), 400 Medley Relay (2nd), 100 Breaststroke (5th), 200 Breaststroke (5th) |
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Lafayette, CO (Fairview) |
400 Freestyle Relay (1st), 200 Freestyle Relay (2nd), 800 Freestyle Relay (6th) |
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Tuscaloosa, AL (Northridge) |
1650 Freestyle (8th) |
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Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
200 Butterfly (2nd), 400 IM (4th), 200 IM (6th), 800 Freestyle Relay (6th) |
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Wayzata, MN (Minnetonka) |
800 Freestyle Relay (6th) |
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Great Falls, VA (Langley) |
200 Medley Relay (2nd), 400 Medley Relay (2nd), 100 Backstroke (2nd), 100 Butterfly (5th), 200 Backstroke (6th) |
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Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby) |
50 Freestyle (1st), 400 Freestyle Relay (1st), 200 Medley Relay (2nd), 200 Freestyle Relay (2nd), 400 Medley Relay (2nd), 100 Butterfly (3rd), 100 Freestyle (3rd) |
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Chester Springs, PA (Downington Stem Academy) |
400 Freestyle Relay (1st), 200 Medley Relay (2nd), 200 Freestyle Relay (2nd), 400 Medley Relay (2nd), 50 Freestyle (4th), 100 Freestyle (5th) |
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Broken Arrow, OK (Union) |
800 Freestyle Relay (6th) |
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Lilburn, GA (Parkview) |
400 Freestyle Relay (1st), 200 Freestyle Relay (2nd) |
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All-America Honorable Mention (Finished 9th – 16th at NCAA Division III Championships) |
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Asheville, NC (TC Roberson) |
200 Breaststroke (12th), 100 Breaststroke (13th) |
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Davie, FL (St. Joseph's Convent) |
1650 Freestyle (9th) |
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Lafayette, CO (Fairview) |
50 Freestyle (15th), 100 Freestyle (16th) |
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Delanson, NY (Schalamont) |
200 Butterfly (10th) |
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Wayzata, MN (Minnetonka) |
500 Freestyle (10th) |
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Lower Gwynedd, PA (Wissahickon) |
1-meter dive (10th), 3-meter dive (14th) |
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Ashburn, VA (Rock Ridge) |
400 IM (15th) |
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Davidson, NC (William Amos Hough) |
100 Backstroke (10th), 200 Backstroke (11th), 100 Butterfly (15th) |
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UAA Swimmer of the Year |
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Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby) |
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UAA Sophomore Rookie of the Year |
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Great Falls, VA (Langley) |
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UAA Coaching Staff of the Year |
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Jon Howell |
Head Coach |
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Cindy Fontana, John Petroff & Bobby Hackett |
Assistant Coaches |
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UAA Champion |
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Asheville, NC (TC Roberson) |
200 Breaststroke |
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Jacksonville, FL (The Bolles School) |
400 Medley Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Breaststroke |
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Lafayette, CO (Fairview) |
800 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay |
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Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
200 IM, 400 IM, 800 Freestyle Relay |
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Wayzata, MN (Minnetonka) |
500 Freestyle |
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Great Falls, VA (Langley) |
400 Medley Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Backstroke |
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New Albany, OH (Columbus Academy) |
200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay |
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Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby) |
200 Freestyle Relay, 50 Freestyle, 400 Medley Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relay |
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Chester Springs, PA (Downington Stem Academy) |
200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay |
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Hickory, NC (Saint Stephens) |
800 Freestyle Relay |
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Broken Arrow, OK (Union) |
800 Freestyle Relay |
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Lilburn, GA (Parkview) |
200 Freestyle Relay |
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All-UAA (Top-Three Finisher at UAA Championships) |
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Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett) |
200 IM (3rd) |
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Asheville, NC (TC Roberson) |
200 Breaststroke (1st) |
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Jacksonville, FL (The Bolles School) |
400 Medley Relay (1st), 200 Medley Relay (1st), 100 Breaststroke (1st), 200 Breaststroke (2nd) |
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Spartanburg, SC (Spartanburg) |
400 IM (3rd), 200 Breaststroke (3rd) |
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Davie, FL (St. Joseph's Convent) |
1650 Freestyle (3rd) |
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Lafayette, CO (Fairview) |
800 Freestyle Relay (1st), 400 Freestyle Relay (1st) |
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Delanson, NY (Schalamont) |
200 Butterfly (3rd) |
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Clarendon Hills, IL (Hinsdale Central) |
100 Breaststroke (3rd) |
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Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
200 IM (1st), 400 IM (1st), 800 Freestyle Relay (1st) |
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Wayzata, MN (Minnetonka) |
500 Freestyle (1st) |
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Great Falls, VA (Langley) |
200 Backstroke (1st), 400 Medley Relay (1st), 200 Medley Relay (1st), 100 Butterfly (2nd), 100 Backstroke (2nd) |
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New Albany, OH (Columbus Academy) |
200 Freestyle Relay (1st), 400 Freestyle Relay (1st), 50 Freestyle (3rd), 100 Freestyle (3rd) |
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Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby) |
200 Freestyle Relay (1st), 50 Freestyle (1st), 400 Medley Relay (1st), 200 Medley Relay (1st), 100 Butterfly (1st), 400 Freestyle Relay (1st), 100 Freestyle (2nd) |
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Vienna, VA (Oakton) |
200 Backstroke (3rd) |
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Ashburn, VA (Rock Ridge) |
400 IM (2nd) |
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Chester Springs, PA (Downington Stem Academy) |
200 Freestyle Relay (1st), 400 Medley Relay (1st), 200 Medley Relay (1st), 100 Freestyle (1st), 400 Freestyle Relay (1st), 50 Freestyle (2nd) |
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Davidson, NC (William Amos Hough) |
200 Backstroke (2nd), 100 Butterfly (3rd) |
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Hickory, NC (Saint Stephens) |
800 Freestyle Relay (1st), 200 Freestyle (2nd) |
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Broken Arrow, OK (Union) |
800 Freestyle Relay (1st), 200 Freestyle (3rd) |
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Lilburn, GA (Parkview) |
200 Freestyle Relay (1st), 100 Breaststroke (2nd) |
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NCAA Elite 90 Award Winner |
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Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
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CoSIDA Academic All-America |
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First Team |
Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
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CoSIDA Academic All-District Team |
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Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
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CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team |
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Asheville, NC (TC Roberson) |
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Lafayette, CO (Fairview) |
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Delanson, NY (Schalamont) |
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Tuscaloosa, AL (Northridge) |
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Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
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Wayzata, MN (Minnetonka) |
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Samantha Kass |
New Albany, OH (Columbus Academy) |
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Pepper Pike, OH (Hawken School) |
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Lower Gwynedd, PA (Wissahickon) |
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Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby) |
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Chester Springs, PA (Downington Stem Academy) |
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Davidson, NC (William Amos Hough) |
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Broken Arrow, OK (Union) |
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Lilburn, GA (Parkview) |
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CSCAA Scholar All-America Second Team |
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Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett) |
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Columbia, MD (Rockbridge Academy) |
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Greenville, SC (Christ Church Episcopal School) |
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Shaker Heights, OH (Hathaway Brown School) |
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Clarendon Hills, IL (Hinsdale Central) |
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Bethesda, MD (Churchill) |
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Vienna, VA (Oakton) |
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St. Louis, MO (Cor Jesu Academy) |
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Moorestown, NJ (Moorestown) |
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Lilburn, GA (Parkview) |
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Cary, NC (Enloe Magnet) |
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UAA Athletes of the Week |
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Chester Springs, PA (Downington Stem Academy) |
Oct. 11 |
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Evanston, IL (Evanston Township) |
Dec. 7 |
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Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby) |
Jan. 17, Feb. 14, March 21 |
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Great Falls, VA (Langley) |
Jan. 24 |
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Waxhaw, NC (Marvin Ridge) |
Feb. 7 |
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The following were the top marks by Emory swimmers and divers during the 2021-22 season:
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50 Free |
22.71 |
NCAA Championships |
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100 Free |
50.16 |
NCAA Championships |
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200 Free |
1:50.27 |
NCAA Championships |
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500 Free |
4:55.49 |
NCAA Championships |
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1000 Free |
10:30.89 |
Vs. Centre |
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1650 Free |
17:03.22 |
NCAA Championships |
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100 Back |
53.71 |
NCAA Championships |
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200 Back |
1:57.66 |
UAA Championships |
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100 Breast |
1:01.99 |
NCAA Championships |
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200 Breast |
2:15.77 |
NCAA Championships |
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100 Fly |
54.14* |
NCAA Championships |
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200 Fly |
2:00.45 |
Vs. Delta State/UWF |
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200 IM |
2:02.44 |
UAA Championships |
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400 IM |
4:20.44 |
NCAA Championships |
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1-Meter, 6-Dives |
277.05 |
Vs. Centre |
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1-Meter, 11-Dives |
410.65 |
UAA Championships |
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3-Meter, 6-Dives |
288.38 |
Vs. Centre |
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3-Meter, 11-Dives |
434.20 |
NCAA Championships |
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200 Free Relay |
1:30.44* |
NCAA Championships |
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200 Medley Relay |
1:39.89* |
NCAA Championships |
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400 Free Relay |
3:20.86 |
NCAA Championships |
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400 Medley Relay |
3:38.38* |
NCAA Championships |
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800 Free Relay |
7:26.48 |
NCAA Championships |
* - Indicates School record