ATLANTA, Ga. – Stanford women's swimming and diving closed out the 2022 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in third place in the team standings – its ninth top three finish since 2008. The Cardinal were led by a national title from Regan Smith in the 200 back while adding three runner-up finishes on the night.
The Cardinal scored 399.5 points on the week to return to the podium after finishing ninth last season. Stanford remains the only program in the country to have never finished outside of the top 10 at the national championships.
Smith picked up her first career national title with a dominant win in the 200 back. She came down fast in the final 25 yards to touch the wall first in 1:47.76 – a new facility record which makes her the second-fastest performer in the event in school history.
She didn't stop there. Less than an hour later Smith came back to finish in a tie for second in the 200 fly – touching the wall simultaneously with Michigan's Olivia Carter in 1:51.19. Smith moved up six places in the final 50 yards after entering the final stage of the race in eighth.
Smith was joined by Lucie Nordmann in the championship final of the 200 back, with the latter finishing eighth in 1:52.28.
Stanford closed out the championship with a thrilling runner-up performance in the 400 free relay. Ruck closed hard over the final 25 yards to finish in 3:08.97. She was joined by Lillie Nordmann, Smith and Huske.
Brooke Forde took seventh in the 200 breast to close out her remarkable career as a 19-time All-American and five time national champion. The fifth-year senior closed strong to finish in a time of 2:06.98 and move to fourth on the school record book.
The Cardinal also picked up victories in the consolation finals of the 200 back, 200 fly and 100 free. Taylor Ruck took ninth in the B final of the 200 back in 1:50.25m Lillie Nordmann won the consolation final of the 200 fly in 1:53.20, while Torri Huske won the consolation final of the 100 free in 46.98. The latter's time would have placed fourth in the A final.
