If the new distance format in Division I swimming is designed to create exciting nationals and break records, that mission was accomplished at the Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships March 18-20 at Texas A&M.

In 2000, the NCAA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Committee established a format in which during Olympic years the meet would be swum in short-course meters instead of the usual short-course yards to give Olympic hopefuls a chance to post times in the NCAA meet that would equate with the meters format used in the Olympic Trials.

Competitors didn't waste any time making a record splash as Georgia opened the meet with a world-record performance in the meet's first event, the 200-meter freestyle relay. Meet records were set in every swimming event in fact, besting the inaugural times set in the 2000 meet.

But it was Auburn making the biggest splash, winning a third straight team title with 569 points, the highest total at the NCAAs since 1993. Second-place Georgia was 138 points back. Arizona was third, Florida fourth and Stanford fifth.

"What I think you saw during this meet was truly how many awesome swimmers there are in the NCAAs," Auburn coach Dave Marsh said. "One of the things I tell my team is that when you win a swimming title, you are competing in the highest-level athletics venue in collegiate sports. To win a team title is very special and different every time."

Auburn received special performances from juniors Kirsty Coventry and Margaret Hoelzer. Coventry won the 200-meter backstroke in a meet-record time of 2:03.86, which is the second-fastest swim in NCAA history. Hoelzer was close behind at 2:05.55. Both times were better than world-record holder Natalie Coughlin's third-place time of 2:06.54. Coughlin, a senior from California, had never lost a race in college in any event until the 200 backstroke, which was her final individual collegiate race and could have tied her with Florida's Tracy Caulkins for most career titles with 12.

"It was a good race, probably my best race of the whole meet," Coventry said. "Natalie is an amazingly talented swimmer. Whenever I get in next to her I have to remind myself that I can't swim her race, I can only worry about my race. It just all came together for me tonight."

Hoelzer added another Auburn victory with an NCAA-record swim of 1:56.16 in the 200 freestyle, and Auburn also won the 200-meter medley relay with record time.

Hoelzer and Coventry were the third-highest scorers of the meet, both scoring 54 points. Auburn's seniors ended their careers with three NCAA titles, two Southeastern Conference titles, a perfect 30-0 dual meet record and 86 All-America honors.

Georgia enjoyed a quick start behind the 200-meter freestyle relay team of Kara Lynn Joyce, Neka Mabry, Paige Kearns and Andres Georoff, which won the event in a world-record 1:37.27.

Joyce, a freshman, then won the 50-meter freestyle and swam the anchor leg of the Bulldogs' winning 400-meter medley relay team on the first day of the meet.

Other stellar performances in the meet came from California's Coughlin, who won her 10th and 11th career titles with wins in the 100-meter backstroke and the 100-meter butterfly.

Stanford's Tara Kirk also was a double-event winner, sweeping the two breaststrokes and setting a world record in the 100. Kirk finished in 1:04.79, becoming the first woman to swim under 1:05 in the event.

Team results

1. Auburn, 569; 2. Georgia, 431; 3. Arizona, 369; 4. Florida, 253; 5. Stanford, 237; 6. California, 235 1/2; 7. UCLA, 195; 8. Texas, 169; 9. Southern California, 160; 10. Wisconsin, 135; 11. South Carolina, 120 1/2; 12. Indiana, 119; 13. Michigan, 114 1/2; 14. Arizona St., 107; 15. Penn St., 101; 16. Texas A&M, 100 1/2; 17. Florida St., 84; 18. Southern Methodist, 72; 19. Virginia, 53; 20. Oregon St., 45; 21. Alabama, 43; 22. Houston, 36; 23. North Carolina, 31; 24. LSU, 29 1/2; 25. Notre Dame, 28; 26. Hawaii, 24 1/2; 27. Arkansas, 24; 28. Tennessee, 23; 29. (tie) Maryland, Rutgers, and Pacific (Cal.), 14; 32. Richmond, 13; 33. Georgia Tech, 7; 34. (tie) Villanova and Minnesota, 6; 36. (tie) Connecticut, Ohio St., and Purdue, 5; 39. (tie) Oakland, Clemson, and Illinois, 2; 42. (tie) Northeastern and Brown, 1.

Individual results

50-meter freestyle: Final -- 1. Kara Lynn Joyce, Georgia, 24.24 (meet record; old record 24.80, Courtney Shealy, Georgia, 2000); 2. Eileen Coparropa, Auburn, 24.41; 3. Sara Platzer, UCLA, 24.68; 4. Becky Short, Auburn, 24.97; 5. Jana Kolukanova, Auburn, 25.01; 6. Sarah Wanezek, Texas, 25.09; 7. Lacey Boutwell, Stanford, 25.23; 8. Jenni Anderson, Auburn, 25.66. Consolation -- 9. Christina Swindle, Auburn, 25.11; 10. Andrea Georoff, Georgia, 25.25; 11. Brooke Boncher, Richmond, 25.26; 12. Laura Pomeroy, Southern Methodist, 25.40; 13. (tie) Meghan Medendorp, Indiana, and Heather Skaggs, South Carolina, 25.54; 15. Neka Mabry, Georgia, 25.56; 16. Elizabeth Daniels, Brown, 25.66.

100-meter freestyle: Final -- 1. Kara Lynn Joyce, Georgia, 53.15 (meet record; old record 53.70, Courtney Shealy, Georgia, 2000); 2. Jennifer Vanassen, South Carolina, 54.38; 3. Lacey Boutwell, Stanford, 54.49; 4. Sara Platzer, UCLA, 54.59; 5. Christina Swindle, Auburn, 55.08; 6. Eileen Coparropa, Auburn, 55.17; 7. Becky Short, Auburn, 55.18; 8. Heather Kemp, Auburn, 55.63. Consolation -- 9. Jana Kolukanova, Auburn, 54.98; 10. Andrea Georoff, Georgia, 55.37; 11. Jessi Perruquet, North Carolina, 55.39; 12. Bethany Pendleton, Wisconsin, 55.46; 13. Amy McCullough, Michigan, 55.49; 14. Sarah Wanezek, Texas, 55.52; 15. Danielle Townsend, Texas A&M, 55.54; 16. Heather Skaggs, South Carolina, 55.72.

200-meter freestyle: Final -- 1. Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn, 1:56.16 (meet record; old record 1:57.33, Maritza Correia, Georgia, 2000); 2. Jennifer Vanassen, South Carolina, 1:57.66; 3. Jessi Perruquet, North Carolina, 1:57.96; 4. Ashley Chandler, California, 1:57.99; 5. Heather Kemp, Auburn, 1:58.24; 6. Jessica Hayes, Arizona, 1:58.30; 7. Carly Piper, Wisconsin, 1:58.57; 8. Melissa Johnson, Arizona, 2:00.42. Consolation -- 9. Florencia Szigeti, Arizona St., 1:58.48; 10. Samantha Arsenault, Georgia, 1:58.75; 11. Lauren Medina, California, 1:58.81; 12. Lindsey Smith, Michigan, 1:59.43; 12. Doherty Colgin, Indiana, 1:59.43; 14. Julie Hardt, Georgia, 1:59.46; 15. Marietta Uhle, Florida, 1:59.68; 16. Jaime Ellis, Florida, 2:00.05.

400-meter freestyle: Final -- 1. Emily Mason, Arizona, 4:01.58 (meet record; old record 4:04.09, Christina Teuscher, Columbia-Barnard, 2000); 2. Kalyn Keller, Southern California, 4:02.21; 3. Sara McLarty, Florida, 4:05.64; 4. Ashley Chandler, California, 4:05.89; 5. Adrienne Binder, Auburn, 4:07.71; 6. Carly Piper, Wisconsin, 4:08.27; 7. Laura Conway, Georgia, 4:08.57; 8. Susan Gilliam, Michigan, 4:10.67. Consolation -- 9. (tie) Morgan Hentzen, Stanford, and Emily Clare Fenn, Michigan, 4:07.21; 11. Becky Koch, Villanova, 4:07.81; 12. Georgina Lee, Southern Methodist, 4:09.43; 13. Katie Nelson, UCLA, 4:09.55; 14. Erin Gorlesky, Indiana, 4:10.65; 15. Margaret Keefe, Penn St., 4:11.19; 16. Kimi Kelly, Virginia, 4:14.62.

1,500-meter freestyle: Final -- 1. Kalyn Keller, Southern California, 15:49.14 (meet record; old record 16:03.59, Cara Lane, Virginia, 2000); 2. Rachael Burke, Virginia, 15:55.27; 3. Laura Conway, Georgia, 16:00.70; 4. Sara McLarty, Florida, 16:01.26; 5. Margie Pedder, Southern California, 16:02.02; 6. Kimi Kelly, Virginia, 16:04.99; 7. Adrienne Binder, Auburn, 16:06.57; 8. Katie Nelson, UCLA, 16:06.91; 9. Lauren Costella, Stanford, 16:09.27; 10. Emily Clare Fenn, Michigan, 16:09.39; 11. Carly Piper, Wisconsin, 16:10.55; 12. Margaret Keefe, Penn St., 16:10.59; 13. Susan Gilliam, Michigan, 16:11.57; 14. Erin Reilly, California, 16:12.96; 15. Kim Routh, Clemson, 16:15.19; 16. Hayley Peirsol, Auburn, 16:15.75.

100-meter backstroke: Final -- 1. Natalie Coughlin, California, 57.51 (meet record; old record 58.66, Courtney Shealy, Georgia, 2000); 2. Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn, 58.54; 3. Sarah Haupt, Penn St., 59.45; 4. Brielle White, Virginia, 59.80; 5. Jessica Hayes, Arizona, 1:00.38; 6. Jenna Gresdal, Arizona, 1:00.44; 7. Marshi Smith, Arizona, 1:00.54; 8. Erin Volcan, Auburn, 1:01.00. Consolation -- 9. Rebecca Sturdy, Texas A&M, 1:00.06; 10. Maureen Farrell, Florida, 1:00.36; 11. Leila Vaziri, Indiana, 1:00.50; 12. Jenni Anderson, Auburn, 1:00.56; 13. (tie) Nicole Mackey, Hawaii, and Helen Silver, California, 1:00.85; 15. Courtney Patterson, Texas A&M, 1:01.04; 16. Jacque Fessel, Tennessee, 1:01.27.

200-meter backstroke: Final -- 1. Kirsty Coventry, Auburn, 2:03.86 (meet record; old record 2:06.70, Beth Botsford, Arizona, 2000); 2. Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn, 2:05.55; 3. Natalie Coughlin, California, 2:06.54; 4. Jessica Hayes, Arizona, 2:07.84; 5. Kelly Harrigan, Rutgers, 2:08.18; 6. Maureen Farrell, Florida, 2:08.65; 7. Leah Retrum, Florida, 2:09.34; 8. Erin Volcan, Auburn, 2:10.22. Consolation -- 9. Joana Fargus, Southern California, 2:09.97; 10. Brielle White, Virginia, 2:10.07; 11. Elizabeth Wycliffe, Texas, 2:10.29; 12. Haley Chura, Georgia, 2:10.31; 13. Jacque Fessel, Tennessee, 2:10.79; 14. Jeri Moss, Auburn, 2:11.78; 15. Naoko Watanabe, UCLA, 2:11.86; 16. Susan Johnson, Wisconsin, 2:12.15.

100-meter breaststroke: Final -- 1. Tara Kirk, Stanford, 1:04.79 (meet record; old record 1:05.74, Kristy Kowal, Georgia, 2000); 2. Sarah Poewe, Georgia, 1:06.02; 3. Birte Steven, Oregon St., 1:06.82; 4. Vipa Bernhardt, Florida, 1:07.08; 5. Lindsey Ertter, Georgia, 1:07.24; 6. Agnes Kovacs, Arizona St., 1:07.37; 7. Kristen Woodring, Penn St., 1:07.62; 8. Emma Dutton, Florida St., 1:07.97. Consolation -- 9. Erin Sieper, Arizona, 1:07.76; 10. Jessica Wagner, Arizona, 1:08.22; 11. Elizabeth Tinnon, Texas, 1:08.42; 12. Laura Swander, Auburn, 1:08.55; 13. Amalia Sarnecki, Wisconsin, 1:08.70; 14. Erin Briskie, Texas A&M, 1:08.81; 15. Annie Babicz, California, 1:09.12; 16. Kelli Stein, Michigan, 1:10.43.

200-meter breaststroke: Final -- 1. Tara Kirk, Stanford, 2:20.70 (meet record; old record 2:22.05, Kristy Kowal, Georgia, 2000); 2. Birte Steven, Oregon St., 2:22.14; 3. Vipa Bernhardt, Florida, 2:23.69; 4. Sarah Poewe, Georgia, 2:25.40; 5. Agnes Kovacs, Arizona St., 2:26.29; 6. Erin Sieper, Arizona, 2:26.75; Melissa Klein, Georgia, 2:27.99; 8. Emma Dutton, Florida St., 2:28.66. Consolation -- 9. Amalia Sarnecki, Wisconsin, 2:26.92; 10. Lindsey Ertter, Georgia, 2:26.93; 11. Lizzy Bruce, North Carolina, 2:28.33; 12. Jacquelyn Craft, Connecticut, 2:28.54; 13. Elizabeth Tinnon, Texas, 2:28.57; 14. Lauren Duerk, Auburn, 2:29.03; 15. Ilkay Dikmen, Illinois, 2:30.82; 16. Anne Amardeilh, Auburn, 2:31.50.

100-meter butterfly: Final -- 1. Natalie Coughlin, California, 56.88 (meet record; old record 57.97, Limin Liu, Nevada, 2000); 2. Dana Kirk, Stanford, 57.16; 3. Mary Descenza, Georgia, 57.79; 4. Whitney Myers, Arizona, 58.06; 5. Demera Christianson, Auburn, 58.75; 6. Georgina Lee, Southern Methodist, 59.38; 7. Tricia Harm, Georgia, 1:00.04; 8. Jana Krohn, Southern California, 1:00.23. Consolation -- 9. Kim Vandenberg, UCLA, 59.36; 10. Brooke Boncher, Richmond, 59.54; 11. Shannon Catalano, Pacific (Cal.), 59.69; 12. Sarah Wanezek, Texas, 59.77; 13. Kristen Lewis, UCLA, 59.83; 14. Anne Weilbacher, Michigan, 1:00.08; 15. Tanya Korniyenko, Oakland, 1:00.12; 16. Rachel Myco, Georgia, 1:00.42.

200-meter butterfly: Final -- 1. Mary Descenza, Georgia, 2:06.02 (meet record; old record 2:06.04, Limin Liu, Nevada, 2000); 2. Kaitlin Sandeno, Southern California, 2:06.07; 3. Whitney Myers, Arizona, 2:06.33; 4. Dana Kirk, Stanford, 2:06.54; 5. Emily Mason, Arizona, 2:07.57; 6. Kim Vandenberg, UCLA, 2:07.78; 7. Georgina Lee, Southern Methodist, 2:08.11; 8. Katie Yevak, Georgia, 2:09.44. Consolation -- 9. Demera Christianson, Auburn, 2:10.07; 10. Vesna Stojanovska, Georgia Tech, 2:11.02; 11. Kristen Lewis, UCLA, 2:11.05; 12. Erin Reilly, California, 2;11.98; 13. Margie Pedder, Southern California, 2:12.45; 14. Kelly Weeks, North Carolina, 2:12.57; 15. Marisa Kozak, Southern California, 2:12.86; 16. Sarah Bugden, Indiana, 2:13.02.

200-meter individual medley: Final -- 1. Kaitlin Sandeno, Southern California, 2:08.11 (meet record; old record 2:10.69, Kristy Kowal, Georgia, 2000); 2. Kirsty Coventry, Auburn, 2:08.88; 3. Whitney Myers, Arizona, 2:10.23; 4. Jaime Ellis, Florida, 2:10.68; 5. Bethany Pendleton, Wisconsin, 2:11.34; 6. Agnes Kovacs, Arizona St., 2:12.73; 7. Lauren Duerk, Auburn, 2:12.86; 8. Malin Svahnstrom, UCLA, 2:13.74. Consolation -- 9. Katie Carroll, Notre Dame, 2:12.28; 10. Katie McCann, Florida, 2:13.16; 11. Katie Yevak, Georgia, 2:13.28; 12. Tricia Harm, Georgia, 2:13.58; 13. Natalie Griffith, California, 2:14.08; 14. Mary Descenza, Georgia, 2:14.17; 15. Leslie Lunsmann, Auburn, 2:14.35; 16. Nicole Mackey, Hawaii, 2:15.08.

400-meter individual medley: Final -- 1. Kaitlin Sandeno, Southern California, 4:30.44 (meet record; old record 4:33.46, Alenka Kejzar, Southern Methodist, 2001); 2. Kirsty Coventry, Auburn, 4:34.20; 3. Emily Mason, Arizona, 4:35.38; 4. Bethany Pendleton, Wisconsin, 4:36.40; 5. Sara McLarty, Florida, 4:38.47; 6. Adrienne Binder, Auburn, 4:40.00; 7. Mari Embertson, Oregon St., 4:40.74; 8. Lauren Duerk, Auburn, 4:41.46. Consolation -- 9. Brooke Taflinger, Indiana, 4:39.42; 10. Kristen Bradley, Indiana, 4:39.75; 11. Erin Gorlesky, Indiana, 4:40.29; 12. Melissa Klein, Georgia, 4;41.64; 13. Laura Davis, Stanford, 4:42.48; 14. Katie Carroll, Notre Dame, 4:42.51; 15. Ashley Carusone, Florida, 4:42.74; 16. Andrea Cassidy, Southern Methodist, 4:44.93.

One-meter diving: Final -- 1. Allison Brennan, South Carolina, 307.20; 2. Lane Bassham, Alabama, 305.85; 3. Meaghan Perry-Eaton, Notre Dame, 303.90; Ashley Rubenstein, Auburn, 303.05; 5. Alida DiPlacido, Texas A&M, 288.60; 5. Jessica Wantz, LSU, 288.60; 7. Ashlee Rosenthal, Stanford, 287.15; 8. Qiong Jie Huang, Hawaii, 285.45. Consolation -- 9. Trisha Tumlinson, Arizona St., 270.65; 10. Tiffany Manning, Florida St., 270.40; 11. Crystal Rasmussen, Alabama, 268.20; 12. Lauren McCalley, Tennessee, 267.20; 13. Ally Hartzell, Texas, 263.85; 14. Mandy Moran, Arkansas, 263.25; 15. Cassidy Krug, Stanford, 260.85; 16. Lauren King, South Carolina, 259.60.

Three-meter diving: Final -- 1. Lane Bassham, Alabama, 557.75; 2. Mandy Moran, Arkansas, 541.95; 3. Jessica Wantz, LSU, 540.15; 4. Allison Brennan, South Carolina, 536.65; 5. Ashley Rubenstein, Auburn, 525.20; 6. Lauren McCalley, Tennessee, 524.55; 7. Azul Almazan, Houston, 510.85; 8. Alida DiPlacido, Texas A&M, 507.85; Consolation -- 9. Tiffany Manning, Florida St., 495.20; 10. Nicole Pohorenec, Texas, 487.05; 11. Qiong Jie Huang, Hawaii, 484.30; 12. Carrie McCambridge, Purdue, 483.60; 13. Anna Kiess, Houston, 483.35; 14. Mary Yarrison, Arizona, 482.10; 15. Lindsay Weigle, Indiana, 479.55; 16. Ally Hartzell, Texas, 468.15.

Platform diving: Final -- 1. Nicole Pohorenec, Texas, 482.20; 2. Trisha Tumlinson, Arizona St., 454.35; 3. Alida DiPlacido, Texas A&M, 435.30; 4. Lindsay Weigle, Indiana, 426.55; 5. Tiffany Manning, Florida St., 424.25; 6. Daniella Bemme, Arizona, 423.15; 7. Sara Bowling, Stanford, 413.60; 8. Azul Almazan, Houston, 412.70; Consolation -- 9. Anna Kiess, Houston, 412.05; 10. Mary Yarrison, Arizona, 405.65; 11. Rebecca Cornthwaite, Minnesota, 403.30; 12. Ashley Bourland, Ohio St., 387.30; 13. Mandy Moran, Arkansas, 373.10; 14. Qiong Jie Huang, Hawaii, 368.05; 15. Taryn Ignacio, Florida St., 365.05; 16. Adela Gavozdea, Northeastern, 361.85.

200-meter freestyle relay: Final -- 1. Georgia (Kara Lynn Joyce, Neka Mabry, Paige Kearns, Andres Georoff), 1:37.27 [meet record; old record 1:40.18, California (Anya Kolbisen, Haley Cope, Nicole Omphroy, Joscelin Yeo), 2000]; 2. Auburn, 1:38.08; 3. Florida, 1:40.60; 4. Texas, 1:40.73; 5. South Carolina, 1:41.00; 6. UCLA, 1:41.18; 7. California, 1:41.36; 8. Indiana, 1:41.48. Consolation -- 9. Arizona, 1:40.31; 10. Stanford, 1:41.44; 11. Texas A&M 1:41.73; 12. Wisconsin, 1:42.11; 13. Michigan, 1:42.46; 14. Florida St., 1:42.83; 15. Southern Methodist, 1:42.90; 16. Pacific (Cal.), 1:43.44.

400-meter freestyle relay: Final -- 1. Georgia (Kara Lynn Joyce, Neka Mabry, Andrea Georoff, Mary Descenza), 3:35.14 [meet record; old record 3:37.67, Georgia (Courtney Shealy, Stefanie Williams, Jennifer Mihalik, Maritza Correia), 2000]; 2. Auburn, 3:36.50; 3. California, 3:40.31; 4. Arizona, 3:40.33; 5. Texas A&M, 3:41.04; 6. Florida, 3:41.91; 7. Wisconsin, 3:41.93; 8. UCLA. 3:43.69. Consolation -- 9. Texas. 3:41.40; 10. Southern Methodist, 3:41.63; 11. South Carolina, 3:41.95; 12. Indiana, 3:41.96; 13. Stanford, 3:43.10; 14. Arizona St., 3:44.02; 15. Michigan, 3:44.45; 16. Florida St., 3:47.33.

800-meter freestyle relay: Final -- 1. California (Natalie Coughlin, Erin Reilly, Ashley Chandler, Lauren Medina), 7:50.94 [meet record; old record 7:55.51, Arizona (Trina Jackson, Sarah Tolar, Jenny Vanker, Emily Mastin), 2000]; 2. Georgia, 7:53.32; 3. Arizona, 7:54.27; 4. Auburn, 7:55.50; 5. Florida, 7:57.90; 6. Southern California, 7:58.20; 7. Michigan, 7:58.62; 8. Arizona St., 8:00.69; 9. Southern Methodist, 8:01.00; 10. UCLA, 8:01.58; 11. Indiana, 8:02.16; 12. Wisconsin, 8:03.98; 13. Penn St., 8:06.73; 14. South Carolina, 8:07.17; 15. Texas A&M, 8:07.25; 16. Stanford, 8:09.26.

200-meter medley relay: Final -- 1. Auburn (Jenni Anderson, Laura Swander, Margaret Hoelzer, Eileen Coparropa), 1:49.02 [meet record; old record 1:49.23, California (Haley Cope, Staciana Stitts, Waen Minpraphal, Joscelin Yeo), 2000]; 2. Georgia, 1:49.20; 3. Stanford, 1:49.80; 4. Arizona, 1:50.07; 5. Penn St., 1:50.52; 6. Texas, 1:51.59; 7. UCLA, 1:51.60; 8. Texas A&M, disqualified. Consolation -- 9. Florida, 1:52.57; 10. Michigan, 1:52.99; 11. Florida St., 1:53.20; 12. Indiana, 1:53.32; 13. Maryland, 1:53.35; 14. California, 1:53.42; 15. Pacific (Cal.), 1:54.07; 16. Wisconsin, disqualified.

400-meter medley relay: Final -- 1. Georgia (Neka Mabry, Sarah Poewe, Mary Descenza, Kara Lynn Joyce), 3:56.48 [meet record; old record 3:57.46, Georgia (Courtney Shealy, Kristy Kowal, Keegan Walkley, Maritza Correia), 2000]; 2. Stanford, 3:58.00; 3. Arizona, 3:59.18; 4. Penn St., 4:01.59; 5. Auburn, 4:01.85; 6. Texas, 4:02.02; 7. California, 4:02.49; 8. Michigan, 4:04.52. Consolation -- 9. UCLA, 4:03.37; 10. Florida, 4:03.98; 11. Wisconsin, 4:05.60; 12. Florida St., 4:07.92; 13. Indiana, 4:08.01; 14. Maryland, 4:08.15; 15. Arizona St., 4:08.73; 16. Pacific (Cal.), 4:09.43.