Cardinals Record Best Finish in Program History at NCAA Championships

Saturday, March 17

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University of Louisville

Women's NCAA Championships

Cardinals Record Best Finish in Program History at NCAA Championships

March 17, 2018 | Swimming & Diving

Full Meet Results Saturday Finals Results

The Louisville women finished fifth in the team standings with 232 points.

By: Kylie Klotzbach

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Louisville women's swimming and diving team capped off the final night of the NCAA Championships in record fashion, placing fifth with 232 points for their highest finish in program history. With the final standings coming down to the last event, the Cardinals' 400 free relay touched the wall in fourth place to secure Louisville's record finish.

"What a special moment," said UofL head coach Arthur Albiero. "It's just an incredible feeling. This was the highest finish in school history. It wasn't all perfect, but we came together as a team and that's what it's all about. I think it speaks volumes about our progression, four years in a row in the top eight, seven NCAA championships in a row. It's just a credit to our program, to the structure we have here, to our coaching staff. I'm very proud to be associated with this group of women and this group of coaches."

Stanford finished first in the team standings for the second consecutive year with 593 points. California finished second with 373 points, followed by Texas A&M (299) and Michigan (267).

In the afternoon session of the 1650 free, Sophie Cattermole put up a time of 16:05.80. The junior placed 19th overall in the event to close out her NCAA Championships.

Mallory Comerford followed up her 200 free NCAA title with a silver medal performance in the 100 free. She charged to the wall in a time of 46.20, breaking her own ACC record and becoming the second fastest performer of all time.

Mariia Astashkina completed her stellar NCAA Championship debut with a 12th place finish in the 200 breast. Her time of 2:08.11 is the third fastest time in UofL history.

Competing in her second individual A final of the weekend, Grace Oglesby stopped the clock in a time of 1:53.46 to take seventh in the 200 fly.

For the first time, the University of Louisville qualified all five of their relays to the A final. The 400 free relay team of Mallory Comerford (46.67), Lainey Visscher (48.14), Arina Openysheva (47.79), and Casey Fanz (47.93) combined for a school record-breaking time of 3:10.53.

Up next, the University of Louisville men's swimming and diving team will compete at their NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. The meet is slated to begin on Wednesday, March 21 and will run through Saturday, March 24.

Championship Notables:

The Cardinals recorded their best NCAA Championships finish in program history, finishing fifth in the team standings with 232 points, which was also the most points scored by Louisville at an NCAA Championships.
Seven Cardinals earned All-American honors in a combined ten individual events in addition to all five relays.
Mallory Comerford claimed her second consecutive NCAA title in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:39.80. She is just the second woman to break the 1:40 barrier in the event, becoming the second fastest performer in history.
With Comerford's NCAA title, the University of Louisville swimming and diving team extends their streak of NCAA champions to seven consecutive seasons.
With a time of 46.20 in the 100 freestyle, Mallory Comerford becomes the second fastest performer of all time.
Mariia Astashkina recorded the fastest times ever swum by a UofL freshman in both the 100 (59.29) and 200 breast (2:08.11).
Mallory Comerford split a 1:39.14 on the second leg of the 800 freestyle relay, which is the fastest 200 freestyle split of all time.
For the first time in program history, the Cardinals had all five relays finish in the top-eight.
In the 800 free relay, the Cards downed the previous ACC record by over a second with a time of 6:53.75.
The 200 free relay team of Lainey Visscher, Mallory Comerford, Avery Braunecker, and Casey Fanz took fifth in the A final, recording the highest NCAA finish in program history.
The Cardinals' 400 free relay also earned the highest NCAA finish in program history with a fourth place showing.
Thursday night's session marked the first time that the Cardinals qualified a swimmer into finals in every single event.
Eight school records fell at this year's NCAA Championships.
- Mallory Comerford – 200 freestyle (1:39.80), 100 freestyle (46.20)
- Alina Kendzior – 100 backstroke (51.76), 50 backstroke (24.23)
- Rachael Bradford-Feldman – 200 IM (1:55.67)
- 800 Freestyle Relay – 6:53.75
- 400 Medley Relay – 3:26.93
- 400 Freestyle Relay – 3:10.53