Swimming and Diving . March 4, 2020

Five Gamecocks Qualify for NCAA Championships

COLUMBIA, S.C—Five members of the South Carolina women’s swimming and diving team earned invitations to the 2020 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, the NCAA announced Wednesday. Sophomore Hallie Kinsey, freshman Taylor Steele and Seniors Albury Higgs, Christina Lappin and Emily Cornell all qualified for the Championship meet. The meet will be held from March 18-21 at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga.

The Gamecocks are also eligible to swim in two relays, the 200 freestyle and the 400 medley.

Kinsey qualified for her second straight NCAA Invite in as many seasons. Kinsey is seeded 12th in the 200 butterfly after breaking the program record at the SEC Championships with a 1:54.12 in the A-final of the event.

Steele makes her first appearance at the NCAA Championships in her first year in the Garnet and Black. A freshman out of Cleveland, Ohio, she qualified for the 100 breaststroke after swimming a 59.72 at the SEC Championships.

Higgs will return to the Championships for the third-straight season. Higgs, who is seeded 31st in the 200 breaststroke, will look to become an All-American for the third consecutive season in the event. Higgs qualified for the 100 breaststroke as well.

Lappin will look to carry over momentum from her impressive final season into the 100 Butterfly. The program record holder in the event will look garner All-American recognition for the first time in her illustrious Gamecock career.

Finally, Cornell qualified for the 200 freestyle after turning in a 1:45.20 at the SEC Championships, which is the fastest time for a Gamecock on the season.

QUOTABLE HEAD COACH MCGEE MOODY
“We are excited to take our women down to Athens and race the best in the country. We have nine athletes we are currently taking nine student-athletes to race. They have worked hard all year and are prepared to represent our program at the highest level.”

2020 NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING QUALIFIERS
(Ranking and qualifying time in parenthesis)

Relays
200 Free Relay (19th, 1:28.44)
400 Medley Relay (27th, 3:33.75)

Hallie Kinsey
200 Fly (12th, 1:54.17)
Taylor Steele
100 Breast (28th, 59.72)

Albury Higgs
100 Breast (31st, 59.75)
200 Breast (31st, 2:08.85)

Christina Lappin
100 Fly (33rd, 52.27)

Emily Cornell
200 Free (36th, 1:45.20)

For more swimming updates, follow South Carolina Swimming and Diving on Twitter at @GamecockSwim.
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