George Washington University Athletics
Knox Matches A-10 Meet Record at NCAA Championships
3/17/2023 12:48:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Northern Ireland native finishes nine spots higher than her seed in the 400-yard IM
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - In her second day competing at the NCAA Championships, sophomore swimmer Julia Knox finished in 24th place in the 400-yard IM, nine spots above her seeding of 33rd. Knox's pace (4:11.44) matched her second-best time of the year - the same pace as her A-10 meet record, which was set at this year's A-10 Championships.
Knox has now finished higher than her seed in both events at the NCAA Championships. Along with her improvement of nine spots today, Knox improved seven spots in yesterday's 200-yard IM.
The 400-yard IM has been a strong race for Knox throughout her career. As a first-year, Knox broke the program record and collected a bronze medal (4:15.38) in the 400-yard IM at the 2022 A-10 Championships. Then at the 2023 A-10 Championships, Knox crushed her previous 400-yard IM program-record pace and set a new A-10 meet record (4:11.44) in the prelims of the event. She went on to take silver in the finals behind teammate Molly Smyers.
The 400-yard IM is the race that got Knox to the national meet. Knox qualified for the NCAA Championships at the Bulldog Invite Last Chance Meet and set a new program record (4:10.57) in the 400-yard IM while doing so.
"Proud of her for what she's learned here," said Head Coach Brian Thomas. "Just like this next big step in her development that she's been able to take throughout this season, it's definitely positive, and especially so in the 400-yard IM where she's pretty elite. A good morning, and one event to go tomorrow, so we'll refocus on that and finish off the meet."
The Northern Ireland native will compete in one final event at the 2023 NCAA Championships tomorrow when she suits up for the 200-yard breaststroke.
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