For the ninth time in the past 12 years, the SMU women's swimming and diving has finished in the top four at the NCAA Championships. Behind Flavia Rigamonti's NCAA title run in the 1,650 free Saturday, the Mustangs jumped three spots to finish fourth at the 2003 NCAA Championships at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. SMU totaled 281 points behind five All-American showings Saturday, while host school Auburn won its second consecutive national title with 536 points.
Rigamonti led off winning her second NCAA title of the year, while repeating as the 1,650 free champion. Rigamonti's time of 15:43.90 was nearly ten seconds better than the second place finisher. Rigamonti's time was also a pool record at Martin Aquatics Center at Auburn. With her wins in the 500 and 1,650 free, Rigamonti became the first SMU swimmer since Martina Moravcova in 1998-99 to repeat as a NCAA champion in multiple events.
''I feel good right now, it is a very tough race that you must get prepared for mentally. I was nervous all day, and I am glad that I got it done," Rigamonti said. "It was my second best time. This is an amazing feeling. When you touch that wall, and look up at the your time; it is a great feeling. I am happy to be a champion."
Junior Alenka Kejzar followed gaining yet another All-American award, this time in the 200 back. Kejzar finished sixth in the event with a time of 1:54.57. Kejzar ended the championship as the Mustangs high-point swimmer with 43.5 points. Rigamonti finished the tournament with 40 points totaled for her two NCAA titles.
Junior Corrie Clark followed with her second individual All-American showing, finishing fifth in the 200 breast with a time of 2:10.07. Clark finished the championships as SMU's third high-point swimmer totaling 34 points.
2003 WAC Swimmer of the Year Georgina Lee took bronze in the 200 fly with a time of 1:56.50. Lee swam the third leg of SMU's final showing 400 free relay team that finished fourth with a time of 3:18.22. With her two All-American showings Saturday, Lee will enter her senior season as a 17-time All-American on the Hilltop.
SMU finished the championship with 20 All-American showings as the Ponies carded their highest finish since finishing third in the nation in 1998-99.
Complete results
