Only five per cent of female swimmers who compete at the top level in U.S. college athletics qualify for the NCAA championships.
Katie Mann of Prince George has done that three times in the past four years.
The 22-year graduating English major, who learned the ropes of swimming with the Prince George Barracudas Swim Club, capped off a stellar college career Saturday in Greensboro, N.C.,with a 37th-place finish Saturday in 200-yard breaststroke, stopping the clock in two minutes 12.2 seconds.
In other NCAA championship results, Mann placed 30th in the 400 individual medley in 4:10.92 and was 39th in the 200 IM in 1:59.05.
"It's been awesome to have someone here on the team for three years in a row who's made that meet. I don't think people really realize, but only five percent of the women's Division I swimmers qualify for this meet," Wildcats head coach Josh Willman told The New Hampshire newspaper. "I'd say Katie is probably the most versatile swimmer we've ever had here."
Mann finished her collegiate career as the Wildcats' record holder in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.17), 200-yard breaststroke (2:10.30), 200-yard IM (1:58.78) and 400-yard IM (4:09.40). She also helped the Wildcat relay teams establish school records in the 400-yard freestyle (3:41.88) and 400-yard medley relay (3:22.55). Mann was this year's winner of the America East Conference Dave Alexander Coaches Award.
Mann, whose academic achievements earned her an Elite 18 NCAA America East award, will transfer to the University of Alberta next fall and plans to join the Edmonton Keyano Club. Mann is an aspiring lawyer, intent on qualifying for Canada's Olympic team for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Only the top two swimmers at the Canadian Olympic trials make the team.
"If I have an awesome next year, the long course training goes as planned, I might be able to," Mann told The New Hampshire. "But I won't be devastated if I don't make it. Rally my goal next year is to give it my all for one more year, and just see where I end up."
