March 18, 2016
ATLANTA, Ga. – Four Gamecocks took the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships stage on Friday as the University of South Carolina completed the third day of the event. Emma Barksdale, Lauren Lamendola, Julia Vincent and Taylor Worrell were each in action at the McAuley Aquatic Center.
South Carolina sits in 26th place after three of the four days at the NCAA Championships, with 17 points.
RECAP
One day after finishing fourth in the 1-meter dive, Vincent placed 26th on the 3-meter board. Her final score of 292.95 was highlighted by Back 2 1/2 Somersault Pike that received an even 60.00.
Lamendola brought home the first All-America honor of her collegiate career by finishing 15th Thursday on the 1-meter springboard, and she finished her Gamecock career on Friday. The senior placed 39th in 3-meter with a score of 276.40. Her top dive was the last effort of her Carolina career, a Forward 2 1/2 Somersault 1 Twist Pike that scored a 58.50.
Barksdale continued her NCAA Championships journey in the 400-yard IM on Friday and was Carolina’s top finisher in the pool. In her second race of the meet, the freshman swam a time of 4:12.21 to finish 29th.
Worrell swam her second and final race of the NCAA Championships on Friday. The sophomore posted a time of 1:49.09 to come in 60th place.
QUOTABLES
HEAD SWIMMING COACH McGee Moody – “We have a great opportunity to break into the top-25 tomorrow. We’re ahead of several SEC schools and have a terrific to finish in a place we’ve never finished before. Our swimmers both had great swims, and both of our divers competed well against very strong fields, where one off dive can cost you a spot in the finals. We’re knocking on the doorstep of the top-25, and if we can score more points tomorrow we’ll achieve something really special.” ââ’¬” On the goals for his team tomorrow
HEAD DIVING COACH Todd Sherritt – “Today wasn’t our best day. Both of our divers missed one dive that put them out of the top-16, and in a tough field like this one, that will cost you. I am still very proud of what both Julia and Lauren accomplished this week. Julia finishing fourth was incredible, and Lauren making her goal of finishing as an All-American was special. She will be missed.” ââ’¬” On the performance of the divers on Friday
NOTABLE
- Both Vincent and Lamendola earned their first career All-America laurels Thursday, becoming the first Gamecock female divers to achieve the honor since 2012.
UP NEXT FOR CAROLINA
The Gamecocks finish their NCAA Championships run on Saturday on the event’s final day of competition. Freshman Allyson Nied will compete in the platform dive, while Barksdale is back in the pool for the 200-yard breaststroke. Swimming prelims start at 10 a.m., diving prelims begin at 12:15 p.m., and finals go off at 6 p.m.
