Simon Earns Bronze with New School Record
March 17, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.– Virginia added another top swim to the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday, March 17, 2017, securing the third fastest time of the night in the 100-yard breaststroke from Laura Simon.
Simon grabbed the bronze medal with a 58.20 to break her previous school record in the event. With the personal best performance, Simon tallied her ninth first-team All-America honor and moved to eighth in UVA standings for overall All-America awards with 12.
Leah Smith earned a spot in the final heat of the 200-yard freestyle, taking her 12th All-America first-team honor. The swim would rank her second in UVA history for the category as she sits just shy of Courtney Bartholomew who holds 13 first-team All-America appearances. Smith raced for a 1:42.66 to clock the fifth fastest time in the event.
“I am so happy for Leah (Smith) and Laura (Simon),” said head coach Augie Busch. “These fourth years have been the backbone of our team since they got to grounds and to watch them have success at their last college meet is awesome. Tomorrow is our best day and will hopefully provide a chance to move up the standings.”
UVA finished the day in 13th place with 88 points. Stanford held their lead at 374.5 points with California following in second with 255.
UVA continued the day with Kaitlyn Jones leading the Cavaliers in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing 16th overall to secure the honorable mentions All-America award. She clocked a 52.31 in the B final of the event. Ellen Thomas swam a personal best in the 100-yard butterfly, seeing her way into the wall with a 52.15 for 19th overall.
Jen Marrkand placed 19th in the 200-yard freestyle. She touched with a 1:45.07 to take a career best in the event.
Virginia rounded out the swimming with the 17th fastest time in the 200-yard medley relay. Jones, Simon, Thomas, and Caitlin Cooper, respectively, secured a 1:37.40 in the event.
In three-meter dive, Kylie Towbin earned 36th overall after tallying 274.5 points. Sydney Dusel took 42nd with 264.70.
The meet concludes tomorrow with the 1650-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, 400-yard freestyle relay and the platform diving.