The IU women’s swim and dive team continued its impressive run at the NCAA Championships on Friday night. The Hoosiers sit in eighth place with 125 points after three days of competition.
Sophomore Lilly King was the star of the night as she defended her NCAA title in the 100-yard breaststroke. King’s time of 56.71 seconds is the fastest ever at the NCAA meet and the second fastest in history.
King also became as the first woman in Big Ten history to win consecutive national titles and the first swimmer or diver to win three individual championships.
With King’s win, IU also becomes the first Big Ten team to have an NCAA Champion four years in a row after King’s in 2017 and 2016, Jessica Parratto in 2015 and Brooklyn Snodgrass in 2014.
Gia Dalesandro also had a successful night for the Hoosiers with an eighth place finish in the 100-yard butterfly. Dalesandro’s spot in the championship final was also the first in school history and the best finish ever for an IU swimmer.
Dalesandro, King, and juniors Ali Rockett and Holly Spears capped off the night for the swimmers with a fourth place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. Their time of 1:35.26 was good for a school and Big Ten record.
In the 3-meter springboard consolation junior Jessica Parratto finished 14th overall with a score of 311.20.
King, Dalesandro, Spears, Parratto and Rockett were all honored as All-Americans for their performances Friday in Indianapolis.
The Hoosiers will resume competition at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Ben Portnoy
