STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford nearly swept the Pac-12 women's swimming and diving awards announced by the conference office on Thursday. Freshman Ella Eastin was named Swimmer and Newcomer of the Year, sophomore Gracia Leydon-Mahoney was selected as Diver of the Year, and head coach Greg Meehan and head diving coach Patrick Jeffery, earned the conference's Coach and Diving Coach of the Year awards.
Eastin was impressive in her first collegiate season. She won two national championships, four Pac-12 titles, and garnered five first-team All-America accolades. The Irvine, Calif., native set an American record in the 200-yard individual medley relay (1:51.65) and became the youngest woman in history to break four minutes in the 400-yard individual medley (3:58.40).
Leydon-Mahoney claimed the national championship on the platform (3:46.15), three All-America honors, and two Pac-12 championships in 2016. The Newton, Mass., product was in the top 10 in all three events at the NCAA meet, including eighth on the 1-meter, seventh on the 3-meter and the top spot on the platform podium. At the conference championships, she was first on the 1-meter (379.55) and platform (341.40)
In his second season at Stanford, Jeffrey was an integral part to the successes of Leydon-Mahoney, but also mentored two other divers to the NCAA Championships. Senior Alex Clay qualified in all three events, while senior Lilly Hinrichs earned All-America honors with a career-best finish of sixth at the NCAA meet.
It marked the second Pac-12 Coach of the Year honor for Meehan, who also earned the recognition in 2014. At the Pac-12 Championships, Stanford won an impressive 13 events, and finished second overall. The Cardinal then finished second at the NCAA Championships in a meet that came down to the final race. Stanford had a total of six national champions in five different events (two relay, three individual), and had 10 different All-Americans combine for 35 All-America honors.
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2016 Pac-12 Annual Award Winners:
Swimmer of the Year: Ella Eastin, Stanford
Freshman/Newcomer of the Year: Ella Eastin, Stanford
Women's Swimming Co-Coaches of the Year: Greg Meehan, Stanford; Dave Salo, USC
Diver of the Year: Gracia Leydon-Mahoney, Stanford
Freshman/Newcomer of the Year: Eloise Belanger, UCLA
Diving Coach of the Year: Patrick Jeffrey, Stanford