The 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Championships continued with the 200 freestyle.
Stanford’s Taylor Ruck is the defending champion in the event, battling back from a lot of adversity to win last year.
She took that momentum into this year and was able to repeat. Ruck is the sixth swimmer to ever repeat as NCAA champion in the 200 free.
“It is definitely cool to do the two-peat,” Taylor Ruck said. “It wasn’t my best time, but I am super happy with that result and getting those points for the team. It definitely added more fuel to the fire gearing up for next year.”
It also made Ruck reflect on last year’s struggles.
“Last year definitely was coming back from some ups and downs. This year, it was working within my place on the team and soaking it all in with my teammates, and acknowledging how special it is,” Ruck said. “Having all the feelings that go with that and trying to inspire the freshmen. It definitely was a really good year.”
Being the senior on a team loaded with young talent has been something Ruck has embraced.
“There are a lot of fifth-year grannies out there and I definitely identify as one of them,” she said. “It is so cool to see their enthusiasm remind me of the passion of why I got into swimming.”
Ruck jumped right out to an early lead on the first 50 as she continued her strategy of starting strong and holding on. She led at the 100 and kept a smooth rhythm. Ruck led still at the 150 and turned just ahead at the 175 and hung on to a late charging Brooklyn Douthwright, and Ruck’s Canadian compatriot, from Tennessee, getting the home crowd into it.
Ruck touched the wall at 1:42.36 and Douthwright was at 1:42.41. Stanford’s Kayla Wilson was third in 1:42.50.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teammates, of course, and Greg (Meehan) and Tracy (Slusser) and them pushing me in practice every day,” Ruck said.
And sometimes, that comes with some changes.
This season, Ruck, who has scored major points in the backstroke events over the years, went into her final NCAA meet with a completely different lineup – all freestyle.
“This meet has been kind of weird. I haven’t done best times, but I have done times I am happy with. Lots of ups and downs in just a few sessions,” Ruck said. “This season, we focused more on the 50. That went OK at this meet. The consistency is there, but sometimes my backstroke is on and sometimes it is off. I guess it is off right now.”
No one has come close to Missy Franklin‘s NCAA and American record of 1:39.10 set in 2015. In fact, only Louisville’s Mallory Comerford – who won this event three times – has also been under 1:40.
But now Ruck, joins both Franklin and Comerford as back-to-back winners, giving her plenty of momentum for the quick turn around to Canadian Trials.
“It is like in a week. We will see how I can maneuver that situation,” Ruck said. “After this, I am going right to Toronto and train with the High Performance Centre. But I am trying to just keep my focus here.”
Event 10 Women 200 Yard Freestyle
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NCAA: N 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
Meet: M 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
American: A 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
US Open: O 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
Pool: P 1:41.40 12/6/2013 Missy Franklin, California
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Ruck, Taylor SR Stanford 1:42.70 1:42.36 20
r:+0.71 23.23 48.99 (25.76)
1:15.09 (26.10) 1:42.36 (27.27)
2 Douthwright, Brooklyn SO Tennessee 1:43.22 1:42.41 17
r:+0.61 23.96 49.58 (25.62)
1:15.57 (25.99) 1:42.41 (26.84)
3 Canny, Aimee FR Virginia 1:42.94 1:42.50 16
r:+0.76 24.04 50.16 (26.12)
1:16.18 (26.02) 1:42.50 (26.32)
4 Wilson, Kayla FR Stanford 1:43.27 1:42.90 15
r:+0.68 24.28 50.24 (25.96)
1:16.54 (26.30) 1:42.90 (26.36)
5 Parker, Maxine JR Virginia 1:43.28 1:43.48 14
r:+0.71 24.55 50.94 (26.39)
1:17.40 (26.46) 1:43.48 (26.08)
6 Peplowski, Anna SO Indiana 1:43.27 1:43.57 13
r:+0.71 24.52 50.80 (26.28)
1:17.31 (26.51) 1:43.57 (26.26)
7 Stepanek, Chloe JR TAMU 1:43.83 1:43.76 12
r:+0.72 23.95 50.13 (26.18)
1:16.82 (26.69) 1:43.76 (26.94)
8 Hetrick, Paige JR Louisville 1:43.90 1:44.32 11
r:+0.67 24.11 50.59 (26.48)
1:17.59 (27.00) 1:44.32 (26.73)
=== Consolation Final ===
9 Webb, Abbey JR NC State 1:44.02 1:43.48 9
r:+0.73 24.57 51.03 (26.46)
1:17.51 (26.48) 1:43.48 (25.97)
10 Atkinson, Emma JR VT 1:44.31 1:43.58 7
r:+0.73 24.73 50.61 (25.88)
1:16.93 (26.32) 1:43.58 (26.65)
11 Pash, Kelly SR Texas 1:43.91 1:43.61 6
r:+0.69 24.30 50.90 (26.60)
1:17.26 (26.36) 1:43.61 (26.35)
12 Fulmer, Amy SR Ohio St 1:43.99 1:43.78 5
r:+0.65 24.37 50.93 (26.56)
1:17.51 (26.58) 1:43.78 (26.27)
13 Nikonova, Ekaterina SO Florida 1:43.93 1:44.05 4
r:+0.68 24.30 50.94 (26.64)
1:17.59 (26.65) 1:44.05 (26.46)
14 Carlson, Abby SO Wisconsin 1:44.27 1:44.52 3
r:+0.68 24.86 51.42 (26.56)
1:17.97 (26.55) 1:44.52 (26.55)
15 Tankersley, Morgan SR Stanford 1:44.02 1:44.60 2
r:+0.68 24.57 50.92 (26.35)
1:17.53 (26.61) 1:44.60 (27.07)
16 Motekaitis, Mia SR California 1:44.47 1:44.69 1
r:+0.73 24.79 51.42 (26.63)
1:18.18 (26.76) 1:44.69 (26.51)
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 10
1. Virginia 298.5 2. Stanford 191
3. Texas 181.5 4. Louisville 158.5
5. Florida 118 6. Ohio St 113
7. NC State 110 8. Indiana 97
9. California 80 10. Lsu 79
11. Tennessee 78 12. UNC 73
13. Georgia 66.5 14. Alabama 56
15. Wisconsin 52 16. Kentucky 37
16. Southern California 37 18. Virginia Tech 25
19. Minnesota 24 20. Texas A&M 19
21. Arizona 17 22. Miami (Fl) 16
23. Duke 13 24. Arkansas 12
25. Michigan 10 26. Northwestern 9
26. South Carolina 9 26. Miami (Ohio) 9
29. Auburn 7 29. Florida St 7
31. UCLA 6 32. Arizona St 4
33. Utah 2
Congrats Taylor! Excellent mindset! Inspired by your love of the journey and close friendships you make along the way. Have fun in Toronto!