While most students finish up end-quarter examinations this week, the Stanford women’s swimming team will face another sort of final test.
After finishing runner-up to the Florida Gators last year, the Pac-10 Champion Cardinal will have an opportunity to earn its 10th national title this weekend in Austin, Texas, where the NCAA Championships runs from March 17-19. A win would also earn a 100th overall NCAA title for Stanford, which has seen at least one team take a national title for 33 straight years.
Stanford heads to Austin as the third-ranked team in the meet, behind Georgia and rival Cal. Across various events, 15 Cardinal swimmers are ranked in the top 15 nationally. Senior Kate Dwelley boasts sixth-best marks in the 50 free (22.04) and 100 free (48.14), while freshman Maya DiRado holds three top-five rankings – she’s third in the 400 IM (4:02.48), fourth in the 200 IM (1:55.11) and fifth in the 200 back (1:52.04).
-Nate Adams