A quartet of Eagles in Doris Eichhorn, Katie Latham, Evita Leter and Fanny Teijonsalo will compete in the University of Florida’s Last Chance Meet this weekend and take one final crack at qualifying for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships next month.
Preliminary events will begin at 10 a.m. each day with final events taking place at 5 p.m. in the Stephen C. O’Connel Center Natatorium.
Latham (Deal, Kent, UK/Sir Roger Manwood’s School) and Teijonsalo (Espoo, Finland/Makelanrinteen Lukio), who already qualified for the NCAA Championships as a member of the Eagles’ 200 free relay team that turned in a NCAA ‘A’ cut at the CCSA Championships, will compete in the 50 free and 500 free, respectively. Teijonsalo is scheduled to go in the 500 free with the intention of clocking a NCAA qualifying time in the first 100 yards of the race. Additionally, Eichhorn (Berlin, Germany/HTW Berlin) will join Latham inFriday’s 50 free and will also swim in the 100 back Saturday, while Leter (Paramaribo, Suriname/Doral Academy) will swim in the 100 breast Saturday.
The Eagles are joined by host Florida, FSU, Miami and Texas A&M in one of nine last chance meets across the country this weekend. A list of the 2016-17 NCAA Swimming and Diving Time Standards can be found here, and a complete schedule of events for this weekend is includedhere.
HOW TO QUALIFY
In order to qualify for the 2017 NCAA Championships, a swimmer must either turn in a NCAA ‘A’ cut in their respective event or rank under the NCAA’s ‘dotted line’ – which will hover around the top-40 in the country – with a NCAA ‘B’ cut. Those under the dotted line in one event can also compete in any other event he or she swam a NCAA ‘B’ cut in throughout the season.
WHERE THEY STAND
Eichhorn touched the pads in 53.65 seconds in the 100 back at last weekend’s CCSA Championships, which currently stands as the 87th-best time in the country this season. After joining the team this spring, she is yet to compete in the 50 free. Eichhorn would also swim in the 200 back at the NCAA Championships if she qualifies in either of the other two events this weekend.
Latham’s top time in the 50 free of 22.34 seconds turned in at the CCSA Championships currently ranks 52nd in the country. If she were to qualify in the 50 free, the United Kingdom native would also be allowed to compete in the 100 free and 100 back at the NCAA Championship.
Leter turned in a NCAA ‘B’ cut with a time of 1:01.78 at the CCSA Championships and currently stands just outside of the top-100 in the event. The 100 breast would be here lone event at the NCAA Championships if she were to qualify this weekend.
Teijonsalo swam a season-best time of 49.26 seconds in the 100 free at the CCSA Championships, which is good for the 80th-best mark in the NCAA this season. The Finland native has also turned in NCAA ‘B’ cut times in the 50 free, 100 fly and 200 IM this season and would be able to compete in any or all events at the NCAA Championships if she makes her way under the dotted line.
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-date coverage of FGCU women’s swimming and diving, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WSWIM and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available.
HEAD COACH DAVE ROLLINS
First-year head coach Dave Rollins became the program’s second head coach in program history on Sept. 1, 2016. Most recently the associate head men’s swimming coach at The Ohio State University, Rollins brings 10 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. A standout collegiate athlete in his own right, Rollins was a nine-time NCAA All-American and national champion as a member of the University of Arizona swimming & diving team from 2002-06.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
AMAZING GRACE CAMPAIGN
FGCU Swimming & Diving has accepted the challenge. In honor of all cancer patients, past and present, our swims benefit the Amazing Grace Organization, supporting cancer patients and their families. Please visit our giving page at https://www.classy.org/events/
News courtesy of FGCU Athletics.