By Andrew McCarty Penn swimmer Lia Thomas officially qualified for the 500-yard freestyle final at the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships earlier this afternoon. Thomas, a transgender athlete, wasn’t sure if she would be competing at the tournament this weekend. However, after receiving clearance, she didn’t waste the opportunity. Just hours after qualifying for the event, Thomas made NCAA history. She became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA championship in the sport of swimming, according to a report from the Guardian. “It means the world to be here, to be with tw…