Lady Dogs swim team leads after first day NCAA meet

AUSTIN, Texas -- Allison Schmitt won her third straight 500-yard freestyle title on Thursday to help Georgia grab the lead on the first day of the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships.

Schmitt set the NCAA, school and Jamail Swim Center records with a time of 4:32.71 in the morning prelims.

Georgia has won four NCAA titles, most recently in 2005, and led 129-122 over Southern California through six events. Stanford was third with 116 points, and defending champion Florida was tenth with 53 points.

California won the 200 free and 400 medley relays, Southern California's Katina Hosszu took the 200 individual medley and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of Auburn claimed the title in the 50 free in 21.38.

Schmitt touched in 4:34.20, holding off Towson's Meredith Budner down the stretch. Schmitt is just the third woman to win the 500 freestyle three times, joining Stanford's Marybeth Linzmeier (1982, 1983, 1984) and USC's Lindsay Benko (1996, 1997, 1999).

Stanford was third with 116 points, California had 115 and Arizona was fifth with 99 points.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/3/237175