Gators of Distinction

- Palo Alto Online Sports
SHP Grad Howe Backs Her Way into an American Record
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Sacred Heart Prep grad Ally Howe joined in the record-setting fun for the Stanford women's swimming and diving team at the Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way on Friday. The Cardinal won four events, set two more American records and swept the podium in two events.

Howe took the headlines with the fastest 100-yard backstroke in American history. Howe surpassed legendary swimmer Natalie Coughlin's mark from 2002. Howe finished in 49.69 and joins Coughlin as the only women to break 50 seconds in the event.

"We are just really excited for Ally, and super proud of her," Stanford coach Greg Meehan said. "She set herself up in the first 25 (yards) when she got out really quick, and once she got her feet on the wall that fast, we knew something special was going to happen."

Howe's feat was the second American record of the night for Stanford. Freshman Katie Ledecky set up a Stanford podium sweep with a new American and NCAA standard of 3:57.68 in the 400 individual medley.

"Katie is a great swimmer," Meehan said. "She can probably do any event and do it really well. I was really proud of how her teammates pushed her to do those things. She was surrounded by three other Stanford swimmers in the IM and three others in the 200 free and I think that says a lot about our group."

Stanford has won the first 11 events (of 14) contested and leads with 1,126 points. Cal is second at 953, and USC is third with 762.

Sophomore Ella Eastin was second in the IM with a time of 4:00.96, and freshman Allie Szekely earned the bronze at 4:02.34. Stanford made up half the final as sophomore Leah Stevens was sixth at 4:10.00.

Just minutes later, the Cardinal monopolized the podium again. Stanford's three freestyle Olympians finished 1-2-3 in the 200 free. Junior Simone Manuel earned the Pac-12 title with a school-record finish of 1:40.37. She out-touched Ledecky at 1:40.57, while senior Lia Neal touched the wall at 1:43.62 to cap another sweep.

To finish off the third night, Howe, sophomore Kim Williams, junior Janet Hu and Manuel won the 400-yard medley relay in 3:26.74. Stanford has won all four relays at the meet.

Before the finals even begun, Hu set two school records in the prelims. She surpassed a six-year-old mark held by Elaine Breeden in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 50.38, and shortly thereafter, topped teammate Ally Howe's record in the 100 back – for the time being -- with a time of 50.29. Hu finished third in the finals in the 100 fly and fourth in the 100 back.

Senior diver Kassidy Cook, who won the 1-meter on Wednesday, was second on the 3-meter with a score of 367.50, while freshman Haley Farsworth was sixth at 301.50.
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Sacred Heart Schools Atherton

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton

150 Valparaiso Ave
Atherton, CA 94027
650 322 1866
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12