GENEVA, Ohio - Farida Maher concluded the 2024 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championship at the SPIRE Institute Aquatics Center on Saturday morning with a school record-breaking swim in the 100-yard freestyle.
 
"Farida had an outstanding finish to her junior season with setting a new school record with a personal best time in the 100 Free this morning. She was ecstatic to break the 51-second barrier and finish in the top 20. We are very happy for her and proud of her," commented Head Coach Rachel Busch.
 
The Golden Bear collected her best finish of the NCAA Championships of 19th this morning during the preliminary session with a new school record time of 50.91 in the 100-yard freestyle. The junior from Cairo, Egypt, had a phenomenal season with the programs first conference championship after winning the 200 and 1000-yard freestyle while adding All-NSIC Runner-Up finishes in the 500 and 1650-yard freestyle. Due to her strong performance at the 2023-24 NSIC Championships, she became the first swimming and diving athlete to represent CSP at the NCAA Championships.
 
In the final session of the championships, junior Kiara Pozvai of Henderson State (Ark.) claimed the 100-yard freestyle national championship with a time of 48.88 ahead Laura Dekoninck of Lynn (Fla.) and Bryn Greenwaldt of Augustana (S.D.), who finished with the same time of 49.57 to share the second place on the podium.
 
Maher's swim on Saturday marks the Golden Bears last of the 2023-24 season. CSP will look to build off a historic season that saw them collect their first invite win at the Roger Ahlman Invitational and finish a program-best fifth with 378 points at the NSIC Championships. The Golden Bears will say goodbye to their first senior in program history, Laura Vekony, but are projected to return 14 for the 2024-25 campaign.