After several close calls, the Auburn Tigers finally captured their first national championship in Division I women's swimming.

But it was no easy task. Three-time defending champion Georgia pushed Auburn and the rest of the field to come within 88 points of its fourth consecutive title in the March 21-23 meet at Texas. The Tigers' 474-point total was the most by Auburn in the national championship meet. Other top-five performances came from Stanford (301), Southern California (300¹/2) and Arizona (291).

The Tigers won the meet with just 11 swimmers, all of whom scored points for the team individually. Auburn claimed two event titles and had 10 top-three finishes. Maggie Bowen led the way, accumulating 57 points for her team and collecting titles in the 200- and 400-yard individual medley swims.

Head coach David Marsh said, "Maggie has really raised the bar for what is possible and has shown that she can compete in any event. Her willingness to defer individual goals for that of the team has been amazing."

Contributing to the championship effort were Kirsty Coventry, who took third in the 200-yard backstroke; Magda Dyszkiewicz, who took sixth in the 1,650-yard freestyle; and Becky Short, Eileen Coparoppa and Heather Kemp, who finished fourth, fifth and 16th, respectively, in the 100-yard freestyle.

"It took so many things for it all to come together and the overall support of everyone in the program has been amazing," Marsh said.

The top individual performance of the meet came from California ace Natalie Coughlin, who swam to three individual titles and four championship records. Coughlin repeated her titles from a year ago by winning both backstroke events and the 100-yard butterfly. In addition, she broke an NCAA record in the first leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay.

In the distance swims, Southern Methodist's Flavia Rigamonti won the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events.

Georgia's Maritza Correia sprinted her way to titles in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles.

In diving, Houston's Yulia Pakhalina was dethroned in the one-meter dive, but retained her crown in the three-meter event. Southern California's Blythe Hartley won the one-meter springboard and platform dives and finished third in the three-meter competition.

TEAM RESULTS

1. Auburn, 474; 2. Georgia, 386; 3. Stanford, 301; 4. Southern California, 300 ¹/2; 5. Arizona, 291; 6. Texas, 267 ¹/2; 7. Florida, 249; 8. California, 245; 9. Southern Methodist, 178; 10. (tie) Arizona St. and Indiana, 136; 12. Virginia, 125; 13. North Carolina, 110; 14. Wisconsin, 84; 15. (tie) Pacific (Cal.) and Miami (Fla.), 76; 17. UCLA, 64; 18. Alabama, 56; 19. Notre Dame, 52; 20. LSU, 48; 21. Penn St., 46; 22. Houston, 37; 23. Tennessee, 25; 24. Florida St., 24; 25. Rice, 23; 26. Texas A&M, 21; 27. Michigan, 20 ¹/2; 28. Cincinnati, 17; 29. (tie) Rutgers and George Mason, 15; 31. Oregon St., 14; 32. Minnesota, 13; 33. (tie) Purdue and Villanova, 11; 35. (tie) Iowa and South Carolina, 9; 37. Fla. Atlantic, 7; 38. Western Ky., 6 ¹/2; 39. Michigan St., 6; 40. Illinois, 5; 41. (tie) Kentucky, Clemson, Binghamton, 4; 44. Northwestern, 3; 45. Princeton, 1.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

50-yard freestyle: Final -- 1. Maritza Correia, Georgia, 21.69 (meet record; old record 21.77, Amy Van Dyken, Colorado St., 1994); 2. Mandy Mularz, Rice, 22.17; 3. Eileen Coparropa, Auburn, 22.39; 4. Stefanie Williams, Georgia, 22.48; 5. Erin Phenix, Texas, 22.51; 6. Rebekah Short, Auburn, 22.52; 7. Carrie Nixon, Notre Dame, 22.53; 8. Sara Platzer, UCLA, 22.62. Consolation -- 9. Christy Cech, Florida St., 22.72; 10. Christy Watkins, North Carolina, 22.74; 11. Sarah Wanezek, Texas, 22.79; 12. Leah Martindale, Florida, 22.80; 13. Jenny Vanker, Arizona, 22.93; 14. Andrea Georoff, Virginia, 23.04; 15. Megan Roesch, Virginia, 23.05; 16. Cassidy Maxwell, Auburn, 23.17.

100-yard freestyle: Final -- 1 Maritza Correia, Georgia, 47.56 (meet record; old record: 47.61, Jenny Thompson, Stanford, 1992); 2. Stefanie Williams, Georgia, 48.37; 3. Sarah Tolar, Arizona, 48.78; 4. Rebekah Short, Auburn, 48.95; 5. Eileen Coparropa, Auburn, 49.22; 6. Manon VanRooijen, Miami (Fla.), 49.23; 7. Erin Phenix, Texas, 49.43; 8. Lacey Boutwell, Stanford, 49.52. Consolation -- 9. Jessi Perruquet, North Carolina, 49.36; 10. Carrie Nixon, Notre Dame, 49.47; 11. Mandy Mularz, Rice, 49.62; 12. Sara Platzer, UCLA, 49.80; 13. Lauren Thies, Texas, 49.86; 14. Tanica Jamison, Texas, 50.01; 15. Christy Watkins, North Carolina, 50.19; 16. Heather Kemp, Auburn, 50.22.

200-yard freestyle: Final -- 1. Sarah Tolar, Arizona, 1:44.66; 2. Stefanie Williams, Georgia, 1:44.88; 3. Jessi Perruquet, North Carolina, 1:45.65; 4. Heather Kemp, Auburn, 1:46.54; 5. Lauren Thies, Texas, 1:46.60; 6. Manon VanRooijen, Miami (Fla.), 1:46.79; 7. Maritza Correia, Georgia, 1:47.04; 8. Lotta Wanberg, Southern Methodist, 1:47.74. Consolation -- 9. Janelle Atkinson, Florida, 1:46.66; 10. Chantal Gibney, Florida, 1:46.77; 11. Jessica Foschi, Stanford, 1:46.86; 12. Malin Svahnstrom, UCLA, 1:47.34; 13. Magda Dyszkiewicz, Auburn, 1:47.58; 14. Lisa Wanberg, Southern Methodist, 1:47.62; 15. Casmera Wick, Rutgers, 1:48.06; 16. Maria Oberg, Cincinnati, 1:48.14.

500-yard freestyle: Final -- 1. Flavia Rigamonti, Southern Methodist, 4:40.13; 2. Jessica Foschi, Stanford, 4:41.10; 3. Magda Dyszkiewicz, Auburn, 4:41.98; 4. Cara Lane, Virginia, 4:42.40; 5. Maria Oberg, Cincinnati, 4:42.77; 6. Carly Piper, Wisconsin, 4:43.03; 7. Heather Kemp, Auburn, 4:43.90; 8. Janelle Atkinson, Florida, 4:47.97. Consolation -- 9. Julie Hardt, Georgia, 4:39.89; 10. Emily Mason, Arizona, 4:41.87; 11. Melissa Deary, Southern California, 4:44.75; 12. Georgina Lee, Southern Methodist, 4:45.44; 13. Sally Anderson, Penn St., 4:46.18; 14. Asa Sandlund, Southern California, 4:46.29; 15. Dana Baum, Minnesota, 4:47.51; 16. Amy Baly, Virginia, 4:48.39.

1,650-yard freestyle: Final -- 1. Flavia Rigamonti, Southern Methodist, 15:52.28; 2. Janelle Atkinson, Flordia, 16:01.01; 3. Cara Lane, Virginia, 16:04.54; 4. Sara McLarty, Florida, 16:06.63; 5. Meredith Green, Florida, 16:08.96; 6. Magda Dyszkiewicz, Auburn, 16:10.48; 7. Julie Hardt, Georgia, 16:20.01; 8. Erin McIntyre, Rutgers, 16:20.04; 9. Amy Baly, Virginia, 16.20.16; 10. Asa Sandlund, Southern California, 16:20.61; 11. Jessica Foschi, Stanford, 16:21.84; 12. Carly Piper, Wisconsin, 16:23.68; 13. Stephanie Smith, LSU, 16:25.47; 14. Brooke Townsend, Arizona St., 16:26.51; 15. Maria Oberg, Cincinnati, 16:27.90; 16. Sarah Fiden, Indiana, 16:29.84.

100-yard backstroke: Final -- 1. Natalie Coughlin, California, 49.97 (meet record; old record 50.57, Coughlin, California, 2002); 2. Susan Woessner, Indiana, 53.23; 3. Beth Botsford, Arizona, 53.45; 4. Kirsty Coventry, Auburn, 53.67; 5. Sarah Marshall, Pacific (Cal.), 54.13; 6. Joanna Fargus, Southern California, 54.57; 7. Neka Mabry, Georgia, 54.76; 8. Jenni Anderson, Auburn, 54.82. Consolation -- 9. Amy Wagner, Stanford, 54.16; 10. Christine Keller, Georgia, 54.44; 11. Miranda Shald, Arizona St., 54.47; 12. Renate DuPlessis, Florida, 54.70; 13. Alice Henriques, California, 54.84; 14. Bethany Lindberg, Texas, 54.85; 15. Katie Meyer, Southern California, 54.89; 16. Julie Manitt, Arizona, 55.03.

200-yard backstroke: Final -- 1. Natalie Coughlin, California, 1:49.52 (meet record; old record 1:50.90, Coughlin, California, 2001); 2. Alenka Kejzar, Southern Methodist, 1:54.18; 3. Kirsty Coventry, Auburn, 1:54.37; 4. Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn, 1:54.54; 5. Beth Botsford, Arizona, 1:55.06; 6. Alice Henriques, California, 1:56. 32; 7. Joanna Fargus, Southern California, 1:56.62; 8. Jessica Hayes, Arizona, 1:57.80. Consolation -- 9. Susan Woessner, Indiana, 1:56.32; 10. Maureen Farrell, Florida, 1:56.66; 11. Lindsay Carlberg, Michigan, 1:57.76; 12. Kelly Hecking, Notre Dame, 1:57.90; 13. Sarah Marshall, Pacific (Cal.), 1:57.95; 14. Jessica Aveyard, Illinois, 1:58.33; 15. Katie Meyer, Southern California, 1:58.49; 16. Kyoko Yokouchi, California, 1:59.95.

100-yard breaststroke: Final -- 1. Tara Kirk, Stanford, 59.03; 2. Maggie Bowen, Auburn, 59.94; 3. Anne Poleska, Alabama, 1:00.08; 4. Staciana Stitts, California, 1:00.40; 5. Agnes Kovacs, Arizona St., 1:00.56; 6. Ashley Roby, Georgia, 1:01.09; 7. Lindsey Ertter, Georgia, 1:01.17; 8. Kristin MacGregor, Southern California, 1:01.36. Consolation -- 9. Katie Hathaway, North Carolina, 1:00.89; 10. Laura Swander, Auburn, 1:01.50; 11. Elvira Fischer, UCLA, 1:01.59; 12. Marcy Warriner, Alabama, 1:01.83; 13. Jessica Wagner, Arizona, 1:01.96; 14. Lindsay Lange, Purdue, 1:01.97; 15. Kristen Woodring, Penn St., 1:02.11; 16. Birte Steven, Oregon St., 1:02.70.

200-yard breaststroke: Final -- 1. Tara Kirk, Stanford, 2:07.36 (meet record; old record 2:07.66, Kristina Kowal, Georgia, 1999); 2. Agnes Kovacs, Arizona St., 2:07.64; 3. Anne Poleska, Alabama, 2:07.86; 4. Katie Hathaway, North Carolina, 2:11.12; 5. Ashley Roby, Georgia, 2:11.41; 6. Elvira Fischer, UCLA, 2:11.58; 7. Corrie Clark, Penn St., 2:12.13; 8. Keri Hehn, Minnesota, 2:12.44. Consolation -- 9. Allison Lyle, Iowa, 2:11.92; 10. Lindsey Ertter, Georgia, 2:12.76; 11. Birte Steven, Oregon St., 2:12.96; 12. Staciana Stitts, California, 2:13.05; 13. Laura Swander, Auburn, 2:13.55; 14. Becky Acker, North Carolina, 2:13.64; 15. Ilkay Dikmen, Illinois, 2:14.28; 16. Jen Noddle, UCLA, 2:14.76.

100-yard butterfly: Final -- 1. Natalie Coughlin, California, 50.01 (meet record; old record 51.18, Coughlin, California, 2001); 2. Shelly Ripple, Stanford, 51.50; 3. Joscelin Yeo, Texas, 52.52; 4. Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn, 52.76; 5. Demerae Christianson, Auburn, 53.06; 6. Shannon Catalano, Pacific (Cal.), 53.50; 7. Tanica Jamison, Texas, 53.74; 8. Jana Krohn, Southern California, 53.86. Consolation -- 9. Sarah Baham, Arizona St., 53.26; 10. Georgina Lee, Southern Methodist, 53.86; 11. Mandy Leach, Louisiana St., 53.97; 12. (tie) Anne Weilbacher, Michigan and Sarah Wanezek, Texas, 54.18; 14. Rebecca Harper, Florida, 54.21; 15. Renate DuPlessis, Florida, 54.49; 16. Sarah Marshall, Pacific (Cal.), 54.88.

200-yard butterfly: Final -- 1. Shelly Ripple, Stanford, 1:54.23 (meet record; old record 1:53.36, Limin Liu, Nevada, 1999); 2. Georgina Lee, Southern Methodist, 1:54.92; 3. Rebecca Harper, Flordia, 1:55.66; 4. Lauren Stinnett, George Mason, 1:56.69; 5. Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn, 1:56.74; 6. Kaitlin Sandeno, Southern California, 1:57.68; 7. Michala Kwasny, Southern California, 1:57.91; 8. Demerae Christianson, Auburn, 1:59.47. Consolation -- 9. Emily Mason, Arizona, 1:56.21; 10. Naya Higashijima, Oregon St., 1:57.92; 11. Katie Yevak, Georgia, 1:57.94; 12. Sarah Baham, Arizona St., 1:57.98; 13. Yun Qu, Binghamton, 1:58.47; 14. Merritt Adams, Northwestern, 1:59.42; 15. Jana Krohn, Southern California, 1:59.82; 16. Kristen Lewis, UCLA, 2:00.68.

200-yard individual medley: Final -- 1. Maggie Bowen, Auburn, 1:53.91 (meet record; old record 1:55.49, Bowen, Auburn, 2001); 2. Shelly Ripple, Stanford, 1:55.58; 3. Alenka Kejzar, Southern Methodist, 1:56.38; 4. Sarah Tolar, Arizona, 1:58.75; 5. Joscelin Yeo, Texas, 1:58.92; 6. Ashley Roby, Georgia, 1:58.95; 7. Mirjana Bosevska, Virginia, 1:59.40; 8. Tanica Jamison, Texas, 1:59.63. Consolation -- 9. Kirsty Coventry, Auburn, 1:59.37; 10. (tie) Michala Kwasny, Southern California, and Brandi Carey, Western Ky., 1:59.73; 12. Katie Hathaway, North Carolina, 2:00.24; 13. Malin Svahnstrom, UCLA, 2:00.26; 14. Kristin MacGregor, Southern California, 2:00.46; 15. Valerie Oswald, Texas, 2:01.19; 16. Jaime Ellis, Florida, 2:01.32.

400-yard individual medley: Final -- 1. Maggie Bowen, Auburn, 4:04.69; 2. Alenka Kejzar, Southern Methodist, 4:06.70; 3. Mirjana Bosevska, Virginia, 4:09.75; 4. Kaitlin Sandeno, Southern California, 4:11.30; 5. Agnes Kovacs, Arizona St., 4:12.36; 6. Sara McLarty, Florida, 4:12.42; 7. Katie Yevak, Georgia, 4:14.90; 8. Maddy Crippen, Villanova, 4:17.16. Consolation -- 9. Emily Mason, Arizona, 4:11.77; 10. Artemis Daphnis, Arizona, 4:13.79; 11. Jaime Ellis, Florida, 4:15.09; 12. Andrea Cassidy, Southern Methodist, 4:15.33; 13. Alisa Schuknecht, Texas, 4:16.30; 14. Kyoko Yokouchi, California, 4:16.32; 15. Michala Kwasny, Southern California, 4:17.53; 16. Amy Baly, Virginia, 4:19.11.

One-meter diving: Final -- 1. Blythe Hartley, Southern California, 350.85; 2. Yulia Pakhalina, Houston, 320.40; 3. Sarah Reiling, Indiana, 320.15; 4. Michelle Davison, Miami (Fla.), 304.05; 5. Katie Beth Bryant, Miami (Fla.), 300.05; 6. Lane Bassham, Alabama, 296.75; 7. Lauryn McCalley, Tennessee, 283.85; 8. Nicci Fusaro, Southern California, 282.70. Consolation -- 9. Holly Hodges, South Carolina, 276.70; 10. Jamie Watkins, LSU, 272.75; 11. Carly Weiden, Michigan St., 269.00; 12. Heather Mattingly, Notre Dame, 267.00; 13. Erin Quinn, Indiana, 265.05; 14. Chelsie Lerew, Florida St., 257.60; 15. Clare Febvay, Arizona, 255.00; 16. Cassanda Cardinell, Indiana, 253.65.

Three-meter diving: Final -- 1. Yulia Pakhalina, Houston, 625.05; 2. Sarah Reiling, Indiana, 581.90; 3. Blythe Hartley, Southern California, 567.80; 4. Erin Quinn, Indiana, 555.25; 5. Michelle Davison, Miama (Fla.), 550.85; 6. Lauryn McCalley, Tennessee, 532.20; 7. Nicci Fusaro, Southern California, 519.10; 8. Heather Mattingly, Notre Dame, 517.90. Consolation -- 9. Kellie Brennan, Southern California, 500.45; 10. Jamie Watkins, LSU, 492.55; 11. Lane Bassham, Alabama, 490.60; 12. Katie Beth Bryant, Miama (Fla.), 485.10; 13. Ally Hartzell, Texas, 480.10; 14. Ashlee Rosenthal, Stanford, 475.85; 15. Barb Gorst, LSU, 471.95; 16. Meghan Zack, Texas A&M, 470.50.

Platform diving: Final -- 1. Blythe Hartley, Southern California, 460.35; 2. Megahn Zack, Texas A&M, 435.90; 3. Nicole Pohorenec, Texas, 430.00; 4. Cassanda Cardinell, Indiana, 429.40; 5. Nicci Fusaro, Southern California, 423.65; 6. Barb Gorst, LSU, 404.20; 7. Tiffany Manning, Florida St., 394.60; 8. Sarah Reiling, Indiana, 362.60. Consolation -- 9. Jamie Watkins, LSU, 410.45; 10. Marion Reiff, Fla. Atlantic, 402.90; 11. Erica Sorgi, Stanford, 394.35; 12. Kim Powers, Stanford, 380.85; 13. Trisha Tumlinson, Kentucky, 374.45; 14. Katie Williams, Texas A&M, 363.65; 15. Clare Febvay, Arizona, 363.35; 16. Danielle Stramandi, Princeton, 360.20.

200-yard freestyle relay: Final -- 1. Georgia (Stefanie Williams, Neka Mabry, Paige Kearns, Maritza Correia), 1:28.74 [meet record; old record 1:28.89, Texas (Colleen Lanne, Tanica Jamison, Kelley Robins, Erin Phenix), 2001]; 2. Auburn, 1:28.92; 3. Texas, 1:29.26; 4. California, 1:30.13; 5. Arizona, 1:30.52; 6. Florida, 1:30.57; 7. Stanford, 1:31.27; 8. Virginia, 1:31.46. Consolation -- 9. Wisconsin, 1:31.57; 10. Penn State, 1:31.62; 11. Southern California, 1:32.15; 12. North Carolina, 1:32.27; 13. Indiana, 1:32.31; 14. Arizona St., 1:32.70; 15. Pacific (Cal.), 1:32.81; 16. Clemson, 1:33.34.

400-yard freestyle relay: Final -- 1. Georgia, (Stefanie Williams, Neka Mabry, Paige Kerns, Maritza Correia), 3:13.71 [meet record; old record 3:14.52, Texas (Colleen Lanne, Tanica Jamison, Shona Kitson, Erin Phenix), 2001]; 2. Auburn, 3:13.88; 3. Arizona, 3:16.74; 4. Texas, 3:16.80; 5. California, 3:17.52; 6. Florida, 3:18.50; 7. Southern California, 3:18.76; 8. Wisconsin, 3:19.40. Consolation - 9. Stanford, 3:19.37; 10. Virginia, 3:19.81; 11. North Carolina, 3:20.17; 12. Arizona St., 3:20.40; 13. Indiana, 3:22.13; 14. UCLA, 3:22.26; 15. Norte Dame, 3:24.18; 16. Miami (Fla.), 3:25.19.

800-yard freestyle relay: Final -- 1. Arizona (Emily Mason, Jenny Vanker, Jessica Hayes, Sarah Tolar), 7:05.10; 2. Auburn, 7:06.70; 3. Georgia, 7:06.77; 4. Florida, 7:07.85; 5. Southern Methodist, 7:10.84; 6. Wisconsin, 7:11.97; 7. Southern California, 7:13.77; 8. Stanford, 7:14.96; 9. California, 7:16.08; 10. Virginia, 7:16.57; 11. Texas, 7:17.13; 12. Arizona St., 7:17.87; 13. North Carolina, 7:18.21; 14. UCLA, 7:19.48; 15. Indiana, 7:19.57; 16. Rutgers, 7:20.23.

200-yard medley relay: Final -- 1. Stanford (Amy Wagner, Tara Kirk, Shelly Ripple, Lacey Boutwell), 1:37.79; 2. California, 1:37.88; 3. Auburn, 1:37.94; 4. Texas, 1:39.03; 5. Arizona, 1:39.58; 6. Georgia, 1:39.81; 7. Florida, 1:40.24; 8. Pacific (Cal.). 1:41.49. Consolation -- 9. Southern California, 1:40.56; 10. Arizona St., 1:40.89; 11. Southern Methodist, 1:41.79; 12. North Carolina, 1:41.91; 13. Purdue, 1:42.53; 14. UCLA, 1:42.57; 15. Indiana, 1:42.78; 16. Disqualified.

400-yard medley relay: Final -- 1. Stanford (Amy Wagner, Tara Kirk, Shelly Ripple, Lacey Boutwell), 3:31.74 [meet record; old record 3:32.43, Stanford (Ripple, Kirk, Misty Hyman, Siobhan Cropper), 2001]; 2. California, 3:32.55; 3. Auburn, 3:34.53; 4. Georgia, 3:35.99; 5. Arizona St., 3:36.56; 6. Arizona, 3:37.10; 7. Texas, 3:38.64; 8. Disqualified. Consolation -- 9. Pacific (Cal.), 3:39.51; 10. Penn St., 3:40.41; 11. Florida, 3:41.76; 12. Michigan, 3:42.11; 13. Notre Dame, 3:42.87; 14. Indiana, 3:43.63; 15. North Carolina, 3:43.92; 16. Clemson, 3:46.75.