Gamecocks Set 800 Free Relay School Record on First Night of NCAAs
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – The South Carolina women’s swimming & diving team kicked off night one of the 2025 NCAA Championships with the fastest time in program history in the 800 free relay, breaking the previous seven-year-old record.
The Gamecocks were seeded 23rd entering the meet with a time of 7:04.29 which was earned at SECs last month. The quartet of Ellery Ottem, Amy Riordan, Breckin Gormley and Meaghan Harnish swam in the first heat of the event on the outside lane. South Carolina kept it close during the first leg of the relay, closely trailing only Texas A&M and Pittsburgh after a leadoff time of 1:45.44 from Ottem which is a best time for the sophomore.
Riordan, who had the fastest split on the relay, dove in next and got the Gamecocks into the lead with a 1:43.72. Gormley followed up with a 1:45.11, keeping South Carolina in the lead. Harnish touched the wall first after splitting a 1:47.11 to secure the first-place heat finish and school record time.
The Gamecocks ultimately moved up six spots from their seeded placement to finish in 17th, one place away from earning All-American Honorable Mention status.
Day two of the NCAA Championship begins today at 1:00 p.m. (ET). The Gamecocks compete in the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 200 free relay and 1-meter.
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