AUSTIN, Texas –– Navy swimmers Lauren Barber (Sr., New Wilmington, Pa.) and Martina Thomas (Fr., Fayetteville, Ark.) each improved upon their respective seeding Thursday at the NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championship in Austin, Texas.

Barber was seeded 30th in the 200 individual medley event, but posted a time of 1:56.93 to finish 22nd in the trial heats Thursday.  Her 22nd place finish is the best for a Navy swimmer in an event at the Division I Championship (since 1991-92).  Barber bettered the 23rd place effort by Tara Chapmon in the 200 freestyle at the 2010 national championship.

Competing in her third NCAA Championship meet, Barber's previous best showing was a 25th place finish in the 100 breast in 2016.

Thomas also had a strong showing at her inaugural championship as she touched the wall in the 500 free in a time of 4:48.23.  That placed her 53rd in the field after entering the event seeded 68th.

Also competing Thursday was diver Hannah Montau (Fr., Germantown, Md.).  She scored 210.00 points to finish in 50th place on the one-meter board.

Thomas, 200 free; Barber, 100 breast; and Meghan Gerdes (So., Spring, Texas), three-meter diving, will be in competition Friday.

Women's NCAA Championship Schedule (all times Eastern Daylight Time)
Thursday, March 21
500 Freestyle – Martina Thomas, 53rd (4:48.23); 200 Individual Medley – Lauren Barber, 22nd (1:56.93); One-Meter Diving – Hannah Montau, 50th (210.00)
Friday, March 22 (10 a.m. swimming trials, 12:30 p.m. diving trials, 6 p.m. swimming and diving finals)
200 Freestyle – Martina Thomas, 100 Breaststroke – Lauren Barber, Three-Meter Diving – Meghan Gerdes
Saturday, March 23 (10 a.m. swimming trials, 12:30 p.m. diving trials, 6 p.m. swimming and diving finals)
200 Breaststroke – Lauren Barber, Platform Diving – Meghan Gerdes, Hannah Montau

Men's NCAA Championship Schedule (all times Eastern Daylight Time)
Thursday, March 28 (12:15 p.m. diving trials, 6 p.m. swimming and diving finals)
One-Meter Diving – Bradley Buchter
Friday, March 29 (12:30 p.m. diving trials, 6 p.m. swimming and diving finals)
Three-Meter Diving – Bradley Buchter
Saturday, March 30 (12:15 p.m. diving trials, 6 p.m. swimming and diving finals)
Platform Diving – Jake Hedrick