Cardinal Captures Fifth Straight NCAA Title

Stanford University and 1996 U.S. Olympic Team head coach Richard Quick has established a women's swimming dynasty on The Farm. In seven plus seasons, Quick and the Stanford Cardinal have amassed a 57-1 dual meet record which includes 57 wins in a row.

The Cardinal have also captured eight Pac-10 conference titles and six NCAA titles, including five straight wins at the national level. The Stanford University Women's Swimming and Diving team captured its fifth straight NCAA title on March 23, 1996 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Cardinal led start-to finish, carrying a 45-point lead after the first day and a 69-point advantage after the second before finishing up with an 81-point advantage over runner-up Southern Methodist.

Leading the Cardinal were five-time NCAA champion Claudia Franco, seven-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion Lisa Jacob, 14-time All-American and seven-time NCAA champion Jessica Tong and freshman Elin Austevoll. Three of the athletes - Franco (Spain), Austevoll (Norway) and Jacob (United States) went to represent their respective countries at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Stanford captured three relay and two individual titles at the NCAAs, setting pool records in each of those five events.

Tong led the way by closing out her career with three NCAA titles. Tong won the 100 back (54.40), and was also a part of the title-winning 400 free relay (3:18.28) and 200 medley relay (1.40.90) teams. She wrapped up her career as a 21-time All-American and seven-time NCAA champion. Franco captured Stanford's second individual title by winning the 100 free in 49.04. Franco was also a part of the 400 free relay and 200 medley relay teams, and is now a five-time NCAA champion.

In the relay events, Stanford touched first or second in all five events. Michelle Jesperson, Amy Oberhelman, Jacob and Austevoll won the 800 free (7:11.28) and Suzanne Toledo, Tong, Austevoll and Franco won the 200 medley relay (1:40.90). Tong, Franco, Becky Bicknell and Emily Smith finished second in the 200 free relay while Tong, Austevoll, Toledo and Franco finished second in the 400 medley relay (3:39.50).

Oberhelman brought home a pair of top five finishes as she finished third in the 1650 free (16:14.82) and fifth in the 500 free (4:46.65). Jacob notched two top 10 finishes as she finished fifth in the 200 free (1:47.58) and eighth in the 200 fly (2:01.00).

Austevoll notched a pair of fourth place finishes in the 100 breast (1:01.54) and the 200 individual medley (2:00.64). Maureen McLaren finished seventh in the 200 back (1:59.02) while Kari Edwards finished seventh in the 400 individual medley (4:17.77).

In platform diving, Megan Gardner finished second (612.50). Stanford won 15 of 21 events en route to an easy victory at the Pac-10 Championships in Long Beach on February 15-17. The Cardinal finished with 1760 points to easily outdistance UCLA (1160.5) and USC (1109).

Tong was part of seven conference titles (50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay), while Austevoll played a part in five titles (100 breast, 200 breast, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay).

Jacob won the 200 free (1:47.69), while Sarah Anderson won the 1650 free (16:21.87). Chantal Rawn took first in the 200 individual medley (2:00.82) and Edwards won the 400 individual medley (4:16.02). Megan Gardner took first place in the platform diving event (393.55) and second in the three-meter (448.75).

The Cardinal won all five relay events as Bicknell, Franco, Smith and Tong won the 200 free relay (1:32.31) while Jacob, Gassner, Franco and Tong won the 400 free relay (3:20.73). Oberhelman, Anderson, Edwards and Austevoll won the 800 free relay (7:17.19). Tong, Austevoll, Jodi Jackson and Franco won the 200 medley relay (1:43.58) and Tong, Austevoll, Toledo and Franco the 400 medley relay (3:41.39).

Stanford went 6-1 in dual meets during the 1995-96 season, outscoring their opponents 1390-684. The Cardinal opened the season with a 174-126 win over then-#1 Michigan on Oct. 21. They also recorded dual meet victories over #3 Texas and #10 UCLA.

Stanford University Women's Swimming & Diving