MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --- After a third-place finish in a thrilling 800 freestyle relay and two individual fourth-place finishes the Bulldogs continue to stand in fifth place after the second day of competition at the NCAA championships.

The 800 free relay quad of Claire Maust, Jessica Cole, Anna Miller and Kara Lynn Joyce put forth their best combined performance of the year with a time of 7:02.97 good for third place and 32 points for the Bulldogs. Maust and Kelly McNichols both collected individual fourth-place finishes with Maust in the 200 freestyle and McNichols in the 100 breastroke.

“We had a really good day,” said head coach Jack Bauerle. “There were a couple slip ups early, but we recovered well. We are looking to have a chance at finishing in the top six, but for that to happen we have to have a great day tomorrow. Coming into the championships we were aiming for top eight, then we changed it to seven, and now we are shooting for sixth.”

Maust’s time of 1:45.23 in the 200 freestyle was a personal best in the event surpassing her previous time of 1:46.38 set at this year’s SEC championships. In just her first individual performance ever at the NCAA championships, McNichols time of 1:00.54 propelled her into fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

To kick off evening two Aleksandra Putra, Kelly McNichols, Anne-Marie Botek and Kara Lynn Joyce teamed together to finish fifth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:38.77.

First up in the individual events for the Bulldogs was Karen Guilkey. Guilkey placed 12th in the 100 butterfly with a time of 53.78 earning five points for Georgia’s team score.

Joining Maust in the finals of the 200 freestyle were Joyce and Cole. Joyce’s time of 1:44.80 was good for ninth place, while Cole collected 12th place. Cole’s finals time of 1:46.46 was a new personal best. Earlier in the day following preliminaries, Miller picked up 28th in the 200 free with a time of 1:48.08.

Along with McNichols, Melissa Klein and Mhyria Miller competed in the 100 breaststroke. Klein finished tied for 17th place after preliminaries in 1:01.72, while Miller picked up the 33rd place finish with a time of 1:03.41.

Featured in the 100 backstroke was Putra who clocked in at 54.15 placing her 18th in the event.

The 2007 edition of the NCAA championships will wrap up tomorrow. Preliminaries of the 200 backstoke, 100 free, 200 breastroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay will kick off at Noon (ET) followed by the 1650 free at 5:30 p.m. (ET) and the finals of all events at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

2007 NCAA Championships – Team Standings After Day 2
1. Arizona 375
2. Auburn 343
3. California 261.5
4. Stanford 250
5. GEORGIA 195

Final Results
200 medley relay
5. Georgia (Putra, McNichols, Botek, Joyce) 1:38.77

100 butterfly
12. Karen Guilkey 53.78
30. Anne-Marie Botek 54.58

200 free
4. Claire Maust 1:45.23
9. Kara Lynn Joyce 1:44.80
12. Jessica Cole 1:46.46
28. Anna Miller 1:48.08

100 breaststroke
4. Kelly McNichols 1:00.54
T17. Melissa Klein 1:01.72
33. Mhyria Miller 1:03.41

800 free relay
3. Georgia (Maust, Cole, A. Miller, Joyce) 7:02.97