100 BACKSTROKE
The shorter of the two dorsal events has a sure-fire favorite in Cal sophomore Cindy Tran, whose spectacular underwaters propelled her to the title in her first year on the collegiate scene. This February at Pac 10s, Tran uncorked a smoking 50.65 – more than a half-second faster than her national title-winning time from last year. While Tran should easily repeat as champion, what clearly won't happen is another 1-2 with teammate Deborah Roth.
In a demonstration of the fickle nature of tapering, Roth didn't even make this year's meet, which leaves points on the board for Georgia to swipe. This year's runner-up should come from another SEC team as senior Jenny Connolly of Tennessee looks ready to step onto the podium. The World University Games gold medalist has leaped over the 52s and into a 51.37, which would have been seven-hundredths off of Tran's time from last year. Even more impressive is that Connolly pulled off a 51-mid after winning the 100 fly in the top-seeded time in the country earlier in the same session.
Arizona junior Lauren Smart has been laying low this season since transferring from Virginia, but made her presence known with a 51.58 at a dual meet against Arizona State, and like Tran and Connolly pulls the tough 100 fly/100 back double and will use those underwaters to kick her way into third.
Georgia's Megan Romano is better at the 100 and 200 free but she was recruited initially as a backstroker, and will be there to pick up much needed points for the Lady Dawgs. Four of last year's finalists are out of the field this year, which leaves room for new faces in finals. Arizona sophomore Sarah Denninghoff has dropped half a second this season, and Therese Svendsen of SMU was last year's consols winner. Wyoming senior Kelsey Conci and Missouri's Dominique Bouchard aren't from traditional swimming superpowers, but have the speed and experience for a finals appearance.
Winner: Cindy Tran (Cal)
Runner-Up: Jenny Connolly (Tennessee)
Finals: Lauren Smart (Arizona), Megan Romano (Georgia), Sarah Denninghoff (Arizona), Therese Svendsen (SMU), Kelsey Conci (Wyoming), Dominique Bouchard (Missouri)
On-The-Bubble: Kristen Shickora (Georgia), Paige Miller (TAMU), Tess Behrens (Minnesota)
Wildcard: Felicia Lee (Stanford) After a shoulder injury pulled her focus away from fly and into backstroke, she's improved exponentially without losing anything on her butterfly. She seems to have a renewed focus this year, and she's still improving. If she can find a tenth or two, she could find herself in her first individual NCAA final.
Blackhorse Finalist: Sabrina Benson (Virginia Tech) Benson stepped on campus in Blacksburg with a personal best of 53.8, which she's whittled down to a 52.6 already this season. The seed time puts her in scoring position on paper, but NCAAs can bring the best and worst out in a swimmer's nerves and potential. If she's on the winning end, her freshman season could culminate in an All-America honor.