Hopkin and Palsha Qualify for 2020 NCAA Championships
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Anna Hopkin and Peyton Palsha have qualified for the 2020 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships along with multiple relay teams for the Razorbacks.
In addition to the two individual qualifiers, sophomores Kobie Melton, Molly Moore, Brittany Pike and Andrea Sansores will represent the Razorbacks in four relays. Sansores, Palsha, Melton and Hopkin will swim the 200 medley relay, while Melton, Hopkin, Moore, and either Pike or Sansores will be the fourth leg in the 200 and 400 free relays. Palsha, Hopkin, Pike and Moore will compete in the 800 free relay.
Hopkin qualified for the 50, 100 and 200 free, and currently holds the Arkansas school record in all three events. The Preston, England, native, earned second-place finishes in the 50 (21.44), 100 (46.20) and 200 (1:42.35) free at the 2020 SEC Championships. She holds the second-fastest 100 free time (46.20) and third-fastest 50 free (21.19) and 200 free (1:42.35) times in the NCAA.
Palsha will swim the 500 and 1650 free as well as the 400 IM. The junior currently holds Arkansas’ top time in the 500 free (4:38), while also holding the second-fastest time in the 1650 free (16:01.99) and the third-fastest time in the 400 IM with a time of 4:09.83.
The Razorbacks set school records in the 200 and 400 yard free relays at the 2020 SEC Championships, earning fourth in the 200 free relay (1:27.93) and six in the 400 free relay (3:14.51).
Estilla Mosena and Josie Matalone will compete at the Zone Diving Championships, looking to add to Arkansas’ NCAA Championship team.
The 2020 Zone Diving Championships will be held March 9-14 at the Robson and Lindsey Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium, with Southern Methodist University hosting.
In total, 281 swimmers from 54 universities will compete individually at the NCAA Championships at Georgia.
Quoting Head Coach Neil Harper
“We are excited about the NCAA Championships. It has been a focus for these six ladies for a year now. We have qualified in six individual events and four relays and are looking to have our fastest meet of the year. We are hoping to have success at Diving Zones, that would really make our team complete. All these ladies have worked hard all year for this, and we are confident and anticipating a memorable Championships. We are excited and proud to represent the Razorbacks at the highest level in collegiate athletics.”
SCHEDULE for 2020 Zone Diving Championships (times in EDT)
15-minute breaks between Prelims and Finals
Monday, March 9
11 a.m. – Women’s 1-meter Prelims
Approx. 1:30 p.m. – Women’s 1-meter Finals (18 divers)
3:45 p.m. – Men’s 3-meter Prelims
Approx. 6 p.m. – Men’s 3-meter Finals (18 divers)
Tuesday, March 10
11 a.m. – Men’s 1-meter Prelims
Approx. 1:15 p.m. – Men’s 1-meter Prelims (18 divers)
3:30 p.m. – Women’s 3-meter Prelims
Approx. 6 p.m. – Women’s 3-meter Finals (18 divers)
Wednesday, March 11
10 a.m. – Men’s Platform Prelims
Approx. 11:45 a.m. – Men’s Platform Finals (18 divers)
2:15 p.m. – Women’s Platform Prelims
Approx. 4 p.m. – Women’s Platform Finals (18 divers)
QUALIFYING SPOTS
Men’s
1-meter: 10 spots
3-meter: 8 spots
Platform: 8 spots
Women’s
1-meter: 7 spots
3-meter: 7 spots
Platform: 8 spots
Click here to live stream the 2020 Zone Diving Championship.
– For more information on Arkansas women’s Swimming and Diving follow @RazorbackSD on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
