STANFORD, Calif. – Fueled by two event victories on the final day of competition, Stanford claimed the USA Artistic Swimming Collegiate National Championship title on Saturday afternoon to repeat as national champions.
Capturing event crowns in trio and team during a second-day surge, Stanford secured back-to-back national championships for the first time since a four-peat stretch from 2005-08.
The Cardinal has produced 11 national titles in school history, having also won it all in 2021, 2016, 2013, 1999 and 1998. Artistic Swimming is one of seven programs on The Farm to have won at least 10 national championships, joining women’s tennis (21), men’s tennis (18), men’s water polo (12), women’s swimming and diving (12), men’s gymnastics (10) and women’s water polo (10).
Saturday’s victory was especially memorable, as the Cardinal prevailed in its home pool at Avery Aquatic Center. It’s the fifth time Stanford has won the national championship while hosting, having also accomplished the feat in 2021, 2013, 2006 and 1999.
Stanford stormed into the lead with dominating performances on Saturday, showcasing its elite depth in the trio and team events with a pair of 1-2 finishes.
Yara Elian, Audrey Kwon and Calista Liu teamed to win the trio event crown, posting a score of 239.7192. The Cardinal also came away with silver, as Megumi Field, Dalia Ovadia and Karen Xue achieved a score of 236.7187.
In the team event, Stanford’s top squad of Miko Begossi, Ivy Davis, Yara Elian, Megumi Field, Audrey Kwon, Calista Liu, Dalia Ovadia and Karen Xue led the field with a score of 234.920. The runner-up spot also went to the Cardinal, with Elisa Brunel, Yujin Chang, Emily Ding, Yanna Hauck, Atira O’Neil, Manu Pindi, Simone Radom and Ella Rau earning a score of 230.7211.
Elian has now won five career individual national titles, while Kwon has four and Liu has three.
The Cardinal placed second (Kwon/Liu with 255.858) and third (Field/Ovadia with 253.892) in the duet. Morgan Woelfel took fourth in the solo with a score of 209.763. In the A Figures competition, Stanford held down the Nos. 3-6 spots, thanks to Field (3rd place at 80.6391), Elian (4th place at 79.0413), Ovadia (5th at 78.1460) and Xue (6th place at 76.0028).
Guiding Stanford to the national title in her first season was head coach Elvira Khasyanova, who was elevated to the role last fall after serving as assistant coach for the previous seven seasons. A 2021 International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, Khasyanova was a member of the Russian Senior National Team from 1999-2012 and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Field was named the meet’s High Point Scorer while Khasyanova was honored as the Coach of the Year.
Cardinal Goes Back-To-Back, This Time At Avery
Stanford wins second straight USA Artistic Swimming Collegiate National Championship title
Tech A Opens in a new window Solo Opens in a new window Duet Opens in a new window Trio Opens in a new window Team Opens in a new window
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