A dive into the information: Why relays could possibly be essential to Stanford girls’s swim success at NCAAs

An in-depth information evaluation of No. 3 Stanford girls’s swimming performances forward of the 2023 NCAA Division I Ladies’s Swimming & Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. this week means that the Cardinal could possibly be set to surpass final season’s performances within the all-important relay occasions.

Having final received a nationwide title in 2019, its third in a three-peat, Stanford completed third within the general factors standings at NCAAs final season with a medal haul of 10, a complete that included silverware in three out of their 5 relays.

Now, headed into this 12 months’s version of the nationwide championships with 4 of 5 relays already ranked within the high three, Stanford will goal to unseat No. 2 Texas and No. 1 Virginia and ascend to varsity swimming’s pinnacle as soon as extra, starting Wednesday, March 15.

Prepared, set, relay

Relays, the last word show of a program’s depth of expertise, are price double the factors obtainable in particular person occasions. This implies twice as many factors are up for grabs to both launch one’s workforce up the rankings or lose substantial floor.

The status of being handed a spot on one of many sport’s 5 relay occasions — the 200 and 400-yard medleys, and the 200, 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays — is one thing swimmers try to attain throughout their years of NCAA eligibility.

“Qualifying for relays is an enormous deal,” mentioned girls’s swimming head coach Greg Meehan. A 3-time Ladies’s NCAA Coach of the 12 months, that is Meehan’s eleventh season on The Farm.

“It will get aggressive in a wholesome means; it often attracts out fairly good performances [throughout the year] as a result of they need to be on that relay on the finish of the season,” he mentioned.

There may be additionally technique in a coach’s alternatives for every relay. Earlier within the season, Meehan defined a conundrum.

“We’re lucky in that we’ve three absolute studs that we will put onto completely different relays,” Meehan mentioned, referencing the globetrotting trio of freshman Claire Curzan, sophomore Torri Huske and redshirt senior Taylor Ruck. “However on the similar time, it takes greater than three to achieve success.”

“They [Ruck, Huske and Curzan] will swim three particular person occasions,” Meehan mentioned. “In order that they have to return off one [relay] and taking them off the identical one doesn’t make as a lot sense, proper? So it’s strategic.”

With athletes restricted to seven occasions complete at championship meets, together with a most of three particular person races, every swimmer might solely swim 4 out of the 5 potential relays (or, one might swim all 5 relays by sacrificing a person entry).

Pac-12 round-up

The Cardinal retained its Pac-12 convention crown final month, and in doing so has already overwhelmed its finest performances from final season in two out of 5 relays.

On the best way to that title protection in Federal Approach, Wash., Meehan constructed quartets that completed first (by a large margin) in all however one of many 5 relay occasions, setting 4 season finest instances alongside the best way.

Explaining that the workforce was break up “about 50-50” between resting for Pac-12s versus coaching via their penultimate meet of the season with a full concentrate on NCAAs, he additionally hinted at potential tweaks to their upcoming relay line-ups in Knoxville.

“We’re consistently enthusiastic about the suitable combos,” Meehan mentioned. “We tinkered a little bit bit with our relays at Pac-12s in comparison with midseason, after which it’s going to look a little bit bit completely different for at the least two of the relays as we transfer into NCAAs.”

However how did these relays carry out, and the place do they place the Cardinal on its path to the nationwide title?

Learn on for evaluation evaluating Stanford’s two most up-to-date seasons, how their present bests stack up in opposition to the remainder of the nation’s elite, and the NCAA’s development in every occasion during the last decade of nationwide championship competitors.

200-yard freestyle relay

Putting at 2021-22 NCAAs: sixth
Rating pre-NCAAs 2022-23: third
Probability of 2022-23 podium end, based mostly on evaluation: Good shot.

One of many two relays the place this season’s finest is already sooner than any time achieved final season, the 200-yard freestyle relay represents Stanford’s greatest potential soar up the nationwide rankings.

At Pac-12s, each Ruck and Huske saved their locations from the workforce that positioned sixth at NCAAs final 12 months, whereas Curzan and sophomore Amy Tang threw down robust splits on the opposite two legs for the win in Washington final month.

That Pac-12 efficiency of 1:25.98 was simply fractionally slower than Stanford’s midseason mark, however each instances are nonetheless half a second faster than final season’s finest.

This season’s finest, 1:25.90, can also be precisely a second sooner than the Cardinal’s time on the 2022 NCAAs, and locations the workforce comfortably forward of all earlier requirements for a bronze medal.

Ranked third behind Louisville (1:25.29) and Virginia (1:23.87) coming into the nationwide championships, Stanford’s coach fancies his workforce’s possibilities.

“I believe we may win that one,” Meehan mentioned. “That might be enormous.”

200-yard Freestyle Relay replace: They could not have received, with the juggernaut that’s Virginia ending day two by making it three for 3 within the relays thus far – however Huske, Curzan, Ruck and Tang leapfrogged Louisville into second place, grabbing the Cardinal silver within the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:25.70. That point slices two tenths of a second off the workforce’s season finest, and marks an enormous enchancment from final 12 months’s sixth-place end.

200-yard medley relay

Putting at 2021-22 NCAAs: tenth
Rating pre-NCAAs 2022-23: tenth
Probability of 2022-23 podium end, based mostly on evaluation: On the cusp.

Stanford’s longest stretch with out an NCAA relay medal lies within the 200-yard medley relay, the primary occasion on the championship meet schedule.

Final season, a time of 1:34.97 noticed them take tenth within the nation at NCAAs, hindered by former Card Regan Smith’s unlucky slipped flip.

Regardless of being faster mid-season in comparison with 2021-22, this 12 months’s Pac-12-winning time (1:35.42) was three quarters of a second slower than on the similar stage final 12 months.

A dive into the data: Why relays could be crucial to Stanford women's swim success at NCAAs

That season-best time got here from a workforce comprising Curzan (backstroke), seniors Allie Raab (breaststroke) and Emma Wheal (butterfly), and Ruck (freestyle), with solely Raab and Wheal coming back from the NCAA workforce final March.

1.72 seconds separates Stanford’s season finest from that of Texas, who occupy the third spot within the entry record. If they’ll keep away from an identical misfortune to Smith’s mishap this 12 months, there may be each likelihood {that a} totally rested foursome, nonetheless Meehan chooses to assemble them, may climb larger up the rankings.

200-yard medley replace: In the long run, the Cardinal’s workforce of Curzan, Raab, Wheal and Tang gained one place, ending ninth within the standings with a 1:35.44 that was simply shy of their season finest from Pac-12s. The quickest groups within the discipline had been higher than final 12 months, with the highest two of Virginia (1st, NCAA, American, US Open file 1:31.51) and NC State (2nd, 1:32.42) each bettering by half a second. This dash medley stays Stanford’s weakest of the 5 relay occasions, and highlights a possible space to focus on for recruitment subsequent 12 months – notably as Raab and Wheal are a fifth-year and senior, respectively.

400-yard freestyle relay

Putting at 2021-22 NCAAs: 2nd
Rating pre-NCAAs 2022-23: 2nd
Probability of 2022-23 podium end, based mostly on evaluation: Good shot.

Stanford earned a medal of every colour within the relays on the massive stage final 12 months, and the silver got here within the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Ruck and Huske returned to the occasion’s line-up at Pac-12s this 12 months, combining with Curzan and fellow freshman Kayla Wilson for a speedy season-best 3:08.83 — simply over a tenth of a second forward of the time that was adequate for the silver medal final 12 months.

“We simply would not have a ‘weak’ leg out of these 4,” Meehan mentioned.

All 4 will have to be at their finest to face an opportunity at closing the two-second hole to the Virginia Cavaliers in first-place with a 3:06.83 (the NCAA file), and it could require a faculty file efficiency. Nevertheless, securing one other podium end seems an affordable purpose for the Cardinal.

400-yard freestyle relay replace: With a season finest 3:08.54, the Cardinal defended its silver medal right here from final 12 months. Tang slotted into the line-up in Knoxville, taking Wilson’s spot from Pac-12s, whereas Huske (the person 100 free silver medallist from earlier that day), Ruck and Curzan all improved from their splits in Federal Approach. They could not have taken down Virginia, who received this one too to go unbeaten in relays and make it a three-peat of NCAA Championships, however Meehan’s squad secured a high three spot general for the second 12 months operating.

400-yard medley relay

Putting at 2021-22 NCAAs: third
Rating pre-NCAAs 2022-23: third
Probability of 2022-23 podium end, based mostly on evaluation: Good shot.

Final 12 months’s workforce bronze medal got here within the 400-yard medley relay.

Legs two via 4 of that relay had been again behind the beginning blocks on the convention championships in February, in Raab (breaststroke), Huske (butterfly) and Ruck (freestyle), whereas Curzan (backstroke) changed the departed Smith on the lead-off.

That workforce stopped the clock at 3:25.79 for the Pac-12 title, which means their finest this season is only a few tenths shy of what they managed a 12 months in the past.

Nevertheless, the potential to be even faster in Knoxville is definitely there.

Curzan’s lifetime finest 100-yard backstroke, 49.46 from the person occasion at Pac-12s, would already put the Cardinal three tenths forward of their effort final month.

Mix that with half a second’s price of enhancements throughout the opposite three legs (each Ruck and Raab had been marginally sooner at NCAAs final 12 months than their splits at this 12 months’s Pac-12s), and the workforce may scare No. 2-ranked Texas, who’re entered for the nationwide championships at 3:25.29.

It could be a stretch to succeed in the NCAA file of three:21.80, the place No. 1-ranked Virginia sits, however a return to the rostrum once more seems to be inside Stanford’s grasp.

400-yard medley relay replace: Virginia made it 4 for 4 within the relays, whereas the NC State Wolfpack dropped over a second and a half to leap from fourth seed to the silver medal spot. Texas dropped a tenth of a second to safe third place, which left the Cardinal simply off the rostrum in fourth, with a 3:26.10 that was marginally slower than their season finest from Pac-12s.

800-yard freestyle relay

Putting at 2021-22 NCAAs: 1st
Rating pre-NCAAs 2022-23: 1st
Probability of 2022-23 podium end, based mostly on evaluation: Lock it in.

This one is Stanford’s forte.

An off-year in 2021 apart, the Cardinal has been the nationwide 800-yard freestyle relay champion yearly from 2017 onwards, with final season’s margin of victory standing at simply over 5 seconds.

The workforce hasn’t been as quick as that NCAA-winning 6:48.30 but this season, however the 6:53.90 put up by Huske, Wilson, sophomore Lillie Nordmann and graduate scholar Morgan Tankersley at Pac-12s nonetheless makes Stanford the top-ranked workforce within the nation heading into NCAAs.

“If we load up on our 800 freestyle relay, I don’t consider there’s anyone that may beat us,” Meehan mentioned.

“Loading up” will possible imply enlisting the assistance of a sure Canadian Olympian.

Ruck wasn’t wanted for the win at Pac-12s; however because the defending NCAA champion within the particular person 200-yard freestyle, with a 1:40.49 break up on this very occasion final 12 months (over a second faster than some other Stanford swimmer, then or now), it’s extremely possible that the fifth-year will return to the line-up in Wednesday’s opening session.

Entered in a 6:55.15, Virginia seems to be the principle menace to a Stanford title right here.

The Cavaliers might slot star junior Alex Walsh into their line-up, which may increase their efficiency by as a lot as three seconds in comparison with their convention meet. Nonetheless, Meehan believes the Cardinal at its finest ought to have sufficient to win.

“I believe that [Stanford’s] relay can go beneath 6:50,” Meehan mentioned. “And there’s no person else that’s going to have the ability to do this.”

800-yard freestyle relay replace: An enormous upset went in opposition to the Cardinal right here; however then once more, with the energy of this Virginia workforce who got here into NCAAs as two-time defending champions, seeded first in each different relay and second on this one, maybe the writing was on the wall. The Cavaliers did choose so as to add Alex Walsh, who alone gave their workforce greater than three and a half seconds enchancment on their entry time, whereas essential drops from their different three swimmers was sufficient to see Virginia dip slightly below the 6:50 mark with a 6:49.82, dropping over 5 seconds in complete. As anticipated, Ruck was pulled out of the opening medley relay and onto this one, however – regardless of dropping three second from its personal season finest – Stanford fell in need of defending its title, clocking in at 6:50.77 for the silver medal. The excellent news for the Cardinal right here is that Walsh, a key swimmer for the Cavaliers, was used on each relays on opening evening, which means she’ll be left off one of many remaining three – which may increase Stanford’s probabilities of catching the defending NCAA Champions out in one other relay later this week.

Takeaways

Virginia, the two-time reigning champion general, will probably be onerous to bump out of first place within the 4 shorter distance relays (200 and 400-yard medley and freestyle relays), particularly with the Cavaliers proudly owning the NCAA file in every of these occasions from their Atlantic Coast Convention (ACC) meet only a month in the past.

Nevertheless, the Cardinal look like on monitor to proceed their streak within the high three each general, and for the 400-yard freestyle and medley relays.

Based mostly on performances thus far this season, there’s additionally a robust shot at a medal within the 200-yard freestyle, and the possibility to rake in additional factors than final 12 months within the 200-yard medley relay, even when a podium spot within the latter may show elusive.

Lastly, it seems the 800-yard freestyle relay is as soon as once more Stanford’s to lose — and Meehan’s squad will look to take an early lead within the title race off the again of that occasion.

To search out info on how you can observe the workforce’s efficiency at NCAA’s, test the ladies’s swimming and diving schedule web page right here. The relays are scheduled as follows:

Day 1 (Wednesday, March 15)
- 200-yard medley relay
- 800-yard freestyle relay
Day 2 (Thursday, March 16)
Day 3 (Friday, March 17)
Day 4 (Saturday, March 18)