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Georgia Holding Strong In Second At NCAA Championships

Mar 17, 2001

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. - The Georgia women's swimming and diving team continued its quest for a third national title as the Lady Bulldogs continued competition at the 2001 NCAA Championships at the Nassau County Aquatics Center in East Meadow, N.Y. At the end of Day Two, Georgia stands in second place with 260.0 points.

"We are hanging in there," head coach Jack Bauerle said. "I don't think we are the most talented team we have had, but they are the toughest. We are at our best with our backs against the wall. We are swimming tomorrow for a national championship."

Georgia was in second place heading into the final event of the evening, the 800y free relay, ahead of Stanford by one 0.5 of a point. The race itself was just as close. Stefanie Williams led for most of the first 200y, but Georgia was in second at the first and second exchange. Both Kim Black (second leg) and Julie Hardt (third leg) made up ground on Stanford, who led through the first three legs of the race. Georgia trailed the Cardinal by just more than two seconds when Maritza Correia, Georgia's anchor, hit the water with 200y remaining. Correia proved why she was the champion in the 200y free event at the 2000 NCAA Championships, passing Stanford's Lauren Thies in the final 100 yards to give Georgia its first NCAA event title of this year's championships with a time of 7:06.48, its fastest mark of the year. Correia's 200 yards in 1:45.86 was tied with Arizona's Sarah Tolar for the fastest leg of the race.

"I can not say enough about the relay," added Bauerle. "By winning the relay we have given ourselves a chance to win (the championship). Maritza showed a lot of class tonight. She was disappointed after her finish in the 200y free, but she came back strong. The 800 free is a tough relay to win, and sometimes the performances have to be more tough than spectacular."

This was the first NCAA title for Georgia in the 800y free relay and put the Lady Bulldogs in great shape heading into the final day of competition.

Senior Keegan Walkley, who was the top qualifier in the 400y individual medley with a season-best time of 4:11.11, led by one and a half body lengths after the backstroke and butterfly legs, but fell behind during the breaststroke and freestyle strokes. Auburn's Maggie Bowen, who was the 2001 SEC Champion in the event, came on strong to win the event in a time of 4:07.26, while Walkley took fourth with a time of 4:11.41.

Georgia, which was tied for third place and trailed then-leader Auburn by 22 points heading into the 200y freestyle, needed to capitalize on having two swimmers in both the consolation and championship final. Stefanie Williams, who had the fastest preliminary time in the event, finished in fourth place, followed by Maritza Correia took eighth with a time of 1:47.45. In the consolation final, Julie Hardt finished in a tie for third place (11th overall) with a time of 1:47.46. Senior Kim Black touched the wall in 1:47.95, good for seventh-place (15th overall). After the event the Lady Bulldogs were still in third place, but had cut the point deficit to 13 points.

Georgia captured some much needed points as junior Ashley Roby took second in the 100y breaststroke with a time of 59.91. Jamie Skinner came out of the blocks quick to win the consolation championship in a time of 1:01.60. Stanford's Tara Kirk took the title in 59.18, followed by Penn State's Kristen Woodring at 59.96. The 100y breaststroke was a monumental race for more than one reason. Not only did both Roby and Skinner set personal bests, but for the first time in history three women broke the one-minute barrier in the same 100y breast race.

"It does not really add any pressure," commented Roby on having the fastest qualifying time in prelims. "It gives you a nice spot and some added confidence going into finals. I think it was the edge I needed, because this is the first time I have finished in the top three at NCAAs. This was anybody's race. (The eight finalist) are all extremely talented."

Christine Keller finished sixth in the consolation final (12th overall) of the 100y backstroke with a time of 54.97, followed by freshman Neka Mabry with an eighth place finish (16th overall).

The Lady Bulldog squad of Keller, Roby, Mabry and Williams took sixth in the 200y medley relay with a time of 1:39.81.