ATHENS, GA. -- Junior swimmer Celia Pulido makes Southern Illinois history at the 2024 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championship. Pulido competed and qualified for finals in both of her events making her the Salukis first female swimming finalist in 39 years. 

In the 100-yard backstroke Pulido qualified for A finals during the preliminary session. She finished with a 50.98 which put her as the seventh seed for the championship. Her qualifying time also broke her personal and the school record for the 100 backstroke. 

In the 100-yard backstroke finals Pulido finished seventh with a 50.73 finishing time. Pulido's finishing time broke both records she had set that morning during the preliminary round and she became the fastest 100-yard backstroke in mid-major history. 

Pulido also competed and qualified for finals in the 200-yard backstroke. She finished first in her heat at 1:52.44 which secured her spot in the B finals. Her qualifying time broke the current school record, which she held at 1:53.80. 

In the consolation finals she finished in 1:52.31, which beats her time from the preliminary session. Pulido finished 13th overall in the 200-yard backstroke finals.

Celia Pulido wraps up her Junior season as an All-American in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke.