Abby Francis Season 2023-24
Student-Athlete Features
VUCommodores.com — Learning by the Lap
Career Honors
• Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week (10.29.19)
• 2023-24 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
• 2021-22 Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• 2020-21 Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• 2019-20 Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Career-Best Times (collegiate)
50 Free: 23.01 at Atlantic 10 Championships, 2.17.22
100 Free: 49.86 at Atlantic 10 Championships, 2.19.22
200 Free: 1:50.03 at Atlantic 10 Championships, 2.21.20
100 Breast: 1:02.03 at Atlantic 10 Championships, 2.18.22
200 Breast: 2:19.03 at Georgia/Florida State, 1.13.24
200 IM: 2:03.50 at Bucknell Invitational, 11.6.19
Commodore Record Watch
• Ranks among the top 10 on the school’s all-time performer list in the 100 free, 100 breast and 200 IM
• Also ranks second in program history in the 50 breast
• Part of team that set school records in the 400 and 800 free relays
As a Graduate Student (2023-24)
• Recorded times that meet the CSCAA NIC B Standard in the 100 free, 50 and 100 breast, and 200 IM
• Was second on the team in the 100 and 200 breast while also ranking third in the 100 free and 200 IM, fourth in the 50 free and fifth in the 200 free
• Recorded season-low times in the 50 (23.38) and 100 (50.37) free at the SEC Championships, also competing in the 100 breast (1:02.56) at the meet
• Touched the wall fourth in the A Final of the 100 breast (1:02.45) while also advancing to the A Final of the 50 and 100 free along with the 200 IM (2:03.57) at the Gamecock Invitational (Nov. 15-17)
• Was the winner of the 100 free (51.72) and placed third in the 200 free (1:52.34) at Illinois (Nov. 4)
• Won the 100 free (51.54) and finished fourth in the 200 free (1:51.68) in victory over Iowa (Oct. 28)
• Runner-up in the 50 breast (29.24) and 200 IM (2:04.04) in tri-meet victories over Little Rock and North Texas (Jan. 27), also contributing to the Dores’ win in the 400 free relay
• Ended up second in the 100 free (52.23), swimming legs on Vandy’s winning 200 medley and 400 free relays in defeat of Tulane (Feb. 2) on Senior Day
• Placed second in the 100 free (52.79) in match-up with Arkansas (Jan. 20), adding a top-five finish in the 200 free (1:54.77)
• Earned top-five results in the 100 (51.96) and 200 (1:53.12) free while making her Vandy debut against Florida (Sept. 29)
• Led the Commodores in the in the 50 (24.36) and 100 (52.98) free—placing fifth in the former race—in tri-meet with Miami (Fla.) and Iowa (Jan. 2)
• Finished in the top 10 in both the 100 (1:03.41) and 200 (2:19.03) breast in competition against Georgia and Florida State (Jan. 13)
As a Senior at Davidson (2022-23)
• Served as a team captain
• Finished third in the 100 free (50.00) while qualifying for the Consolation Final in the 100 breast (1:03.18) at the Atlantic 10 Championships (Feb. 15-18)
• Part of the Wildcats’ 400 free relay that earned a bronze medal at the meet also
• Made the A Final in the 200 IM (2:04.83) and was runner-up the B Final in the 200 breast (2:19.08) at the Bucknell Invitational (Nov. 18-20)
As a Junior at Davidson (2021-22)
• Received the program’s Pat Miller Most Valuable Award as well as the Wildcat Award presented to best teammate
• Earned two medals at the Atlantic 10 Championships (Feb. 16-19), claiming silver as part of the Wildcats’ school-record 200 free relay and bronze in the 100 free
• Also placed fourth at that meet with career-best times in the 50 free and 100 breast
• Swam on the program-record 400 medley relay as well, which finished fourth
• Won two events in meet with UNC Wilmington (Feb. 5), the 100 free (52.53) and 200 IM (2:06.33)
• Swam on the 200 and 400 free relays teams that earned victories at the Bucknell Invitational (Nov. 19-21)
As a Sophomore at Davidson (2020-21)
• Was among the top 10 in individual scoring at the Atlantic 10 Championships (April 14-17) after recording 48 points while claiming six medals including three golds
• Won the 50 free (23.19) and finished sceond in the 100 free (50.09), also advancing to the finals in the 200 free
• Part of teams that finished first in the 200 free and 800 free relays
• Helped the 400 free relay place second and the 400 medley relay end up third at the championships as well
• Touched the wall first in the 200 IM (2:06.49) in a victory over UNC Wilmington (March 19), also finishing second in the 100 free (51.56) and 100 breast (1:05.35)
As a Freshman at Davidson (2019-20)
• Earned medals as part of the team’s 200 medley relay that placed second and 400 free relay that was third at the Atlantic 10 Championships (Feb. 19-22)
• Touched the wall fourth at that meet in the 100 free (50.56) and was also fifth in the 50 free (23.44), reaching the finals in the 200 free as well
• Was named A-10 Rookie of the Week after winning the 100 free (52.77) and the 200 medley relay against Georgetown (Oct. 26)
• Finished first in both the 50 (24.39) and 200 (1:54.80) free against William & Mary (Jan. 18)
The Francis File
• Working on a master’s degree in human development studies
• Swam at Wethersfield High and also competed for the Laurel East Hartford YMCA
• Part of teams at Wethersfield High that won four straight conference championships
• Named the state swimmer of the year while earning all-state and all-conference recorgnition
• Served as a team captain for the Eagles
• Daughter of Caroline and David Francis
• Is the youngest of three children
• Oldest brother, Jamie, swam at Penn State from 2007-09
Why Vanderbilt: “I chose Vanderbilt because of the balance that it provides of academics and athletics. Everyone in the Vanderbilt community has been so welcoming and encouraging in my pursuit of my athletics and academics, I am so excited to become a Commodore!”