Photo by: Justin Casterline
Fears Makes History as Louisville's First Honorable Mention All-American Diver
March 23, 2019 | Swimming & Diving
The Cards qualified four events to finals on the final night of NCAAs.
AUSTIN, Texas – Junior Molly Fears made history as the first Louisville diver to earn Honorable Mention All-American honors to set the University of Louisville women's swimming and diving team up for the final session of the NCAA Championships.
Led by Mallory Comerford with the top time in the 100 free, the Cardinal swimmers qualified four events to finals on the last prelims session of the championships on Saturday morning.
Comerford raced to a time of 46.57 to earn a spot in lane four heading into tonight's 100 free finals. The senior collected a silver medal in 2018 and a bronze in 2017 and will look for her first NCAA title in the event tonight.
Two Cardinals qualified for finals in the 200 fly as Grace Oglesby won her heat with a personal best time of 1:52.21 to secure the three seed in tonight's A final. Freshman Alena Kraus recorded a time of 1:55.29 to finish 13th and solidify a spot in her first NCAA final.
The Cardinals also qualified for their fifth straight relay A final as Lainey Visscher (49.15), Comerford (46.28), Casey Fanz (48.53) and Arina Openysheva (48.05) finished sixth with a time of 3:12.01.
In the platform dive prelims, Fears came from behind to qualify 15th into the consolation final with a score of 256.50. In the consolation final, she placed fourth for 12th overall with a score of 258.65, solidifying Honorable Mention All-American honors and adding five points to the Cards' team total.
Morgan Friesen was the Cards' top performer in the 200 breast, finishing third in her heat with a time of 2:09.13. Mariia Astashkina stopped the clock in a time of 2:09.78, followed by Kaylee Wheeler, who posted a personal best time of 2:12.43.
In the 200 back, senior Alina Kendzior completed her final race as a Cardinal with a time of 1:55.07.
Also competing in the 200 fly was Maria Sumida, who finished with a time of 2:00.98.
The Cards will be back in action tonight at 6 p.m. ET for the last finals session of the NCAA Championships.
Led by Mallory Comerford with the top time in the 100 free, the Cardinal swimmers qualified four events to finals on the last prelims session of the championships on Saturday morning.
Comerford raced to a time of 46.57 to earn a spot in lane four heading into tonight's 100 free finals. The senior collected a silver medal in 2018 and a bronze in 2017 and will look for her first NCAA title in the event tonight.
Two Cardinals qualified for finals in the 200 fly as Grace Oglesby won her heat with a personal best time of 1:52.21 to secure the three seed in tonight's A final. Freshman Alena Kraus recorded a time of 1:55.29 to finish 13th and solidify a spot in her first NCAA final.
The Cardinals also qualified for their fifth straight relay A final as Lainey Visscher (49.15), Comerford (46.28), Casey Fanz (48.53) and Arina Openysheva (48.05) finished sixth with a time of 3:12.01.
In the platform dive prelims, Fears came from behind to qualify 15th into the consolation final with a score of 256.50. In the consolation final, she placed fourth for 12th overall with a score of 258.65, solidifying Honorable Mention All-American honors and adding five points to the Cards' team total.
Morgan Friesen was the Cards' top performer in the 200 breast, finishing third in her heat with a time of 2:09.13. Mariia Astashkina stopped the clock in a time of 2:09.78, followed by Kaylee Wheeler, who posted a personal best time of 2:12.43.
In the 200 back, senior Alina Kendzior completed her final race as a Cardinal with a time of 1:55.07.
Also competing in the 200 fly was Maria Sumida, who finished with a time of 2:00.98.
The Cards will be back in action tonight at 6 p.m. ET for the last finals session of the NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
Breaststroke
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
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Free/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Diver
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
IM/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Swimming & Diving
IM/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke
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