Feb. 28, 2013
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Diver Stephanie Phipps posted a comeback win in the 3-meter event and Stanford retained its overall lead through day two of the 2013 Pac-12 Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday at the King County Aquatic Center.
Phipps was fourth with 290.90 points in the prelims and responded with a 345.20 in the finals to earn the title. The 2011 Pac-10 Diving Newcomer of the Year notched the 11th 3-meter crown in program history and first since 2008.
Phipps' total was the highest of any winning Cardinal diver at the league meet in over a decade, as she edged Arizona's Samantha Pickens who posted a 344.60 in the finals.
"It was definitely a strong performance by Stephanie in both the prelims and finals," diving coach Rick Schavone said. "I believed all season that she was training well and making good improvements, but it was not showing in meets until today."
Sloane Brazina (266.85) joined Phipps in the top 10 with the Cardinal also receiving points from Kelly Markle (256.25), Alexandra Clay (252.80), Lillian Hinrichs (252.55) and Jennifer Wylie (194.40).
With 491.5 team points, Stanford leads second-place USC (454.5) and Arizona (407.5) among the field.
"There were some very solid performances out of our team today," Stanford head coach Greg Meehan said. "Our team did an amazing job and I was so happy for Stephanie to get the 3-meter win. Rick has the group peaking at the right time.
"From a swimming perspective, Alex Whitford really ignited our group today. As a whole, we need to be better tomorrow morning."
USC's Haley Anderson (4:38.79) won the 500 free with Allison Brown (4:42.96) securing sixth-place with an NCAA B-cut. Brown was one spot ahead of Andi Taylor (4:43.82) and the Cardinal also received points from Julia Anderson (4:46.05), Natalie Durant (4:47.92), Allison Arnold (4:48.41) and Mackenzie Stein (4:52.42).
Maya DiRado's 1:55.44 in the 200 individual medley was enough to shelf an NCAA A-cut and fourth-place finish. Sarah Haase (1:59.57), Megan Fischer-Colbrie (1:59.63) and Kirstie Chen (2:00.97) took spots 12 through 14.
In the splash and dash, Maddy Schaefer (22.12) was out-touched by Arizona's Margo Geer, who won the 50 free in 21.78. Andi Murez followed her 22.57 prelim performance with a 22.25 for fifth. Alex Whitford (22.54) was ninth overall to help boost the Cardinal.
Stanford posted another NCAA A-cut to wrap up the evening when Schaefer, Whitford, Julia Ama and Murez went 1:28.86 in the 200 free relay. The top four teams in the race were separated by less than one second, as Arizona touched in 1:27.93 for the win.
Friday's prelims begin at 11 a.m. (PT) with the 400 individual medley, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 1-meter diving. The evening session will start at 6 p.m.
Live results will be available at GoStanford.com.
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