2021 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships
Greensboro, Day Three Finals
The ACC women’s swimming and diving championships continued Friday night from Greensboro, North Carolina as the pool was on American record watch. Ultimately no national records fell but it was a great night of racing. All but two of the winners on Friday night in Greensboro sit #1 in the nation in their respective events, with Virginia’s Ella Nelson, Kate Douglass and Paige Madden taking wins in the 400 IM, 100 fly and 200 free.
NC State’s Sophie Hansson and Katharine Berkoff took impressive wins in the 100 breast and 100 back as they sit #2 nationally behind the winners at SECs earlier tonight.
Virginia closed the night with the fastest time in the nation in the 400 medley relay as they chased down NC State, who was under NCAA record pace through the first 300 yards.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 14 1. Virginia 1047 2. NC State 879 3. Louisville 683.5 4. Virginia Tech 578 5. Notre Dame 509 6. Duke 502 7. North Carolina 399.5 8. Georgia Tech 391 9. Florida State 380 10. Miami (Fl) 329 11. Pittsburgh 277 12. Boston College 147
100 Fly
Virginia’s Kate Douglass started the night with a 49.96 in winning the 100 butterfly, just dipping under the 50 second mark in the event. Douglass was already a 49.7 earlier this season as she leads the nation in that event by a half second ahead of Texas’ Olivia Bray. Out in 22.9, which was under Maggie MacNeil’s NCAA record pace, Douglass came home in 26.98 to win her first individual title of the weekend.
Douglass was joined in the final by four of her teammates as she went 1-2 with fellow sophomore Lexi Cuomo (50.65), who just out-touched Kylee Alons of NC State at 50.74. Cuomo and Alons sit third and fourth nationally as they were both quicker than Rhyan White’s winning time at SECs tonight at 50.94.
Alons was up with Douglass through 75 before Cuomo used her stellar underwaters to pass the 50 free champ on the last 25. The Cavaliers also scored a boat-load of points with Jessica Nava (51.82) in fifth, Caroline Gmelich (51.94) in sixth and Abby Harter in eighth (52.12). Virginia has a chance to score three or four swimmers at NCAAs in four weeks in this same pool in Greensboro as they could potentially win the national title as a team, after coming in to last year’s meet as the top seeded team before the meet was cancelled.
Louisville’s Gabi Albiero (51.59) finished in fourth overall as the freshmen was also joined by classmate Tristen Ulett (52.05) of the Cardinals. With those two, the Cardinals closed the gap on Virginia Tech for third place.
Event 9 Women 100 Yard Butterfly
=========================================================================
Meet: @ 50.06 02/19/2016 Kelsi Worrell, Louisville
ACC: ! 49.43 03/18/2017 Kelsi Worrell, Louisville
American: * 49.38 02/20/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
NCAA: $ 49.26 12/06/2019 Maggie McNeil, Michigan
U.S. Open: # 49.26 03/18/2019 Louise Hansson, Southern Cal
Pool Record: & 49.81 03/20/2015 Kelsi Worrell, Louisville
50.92 A
52.34 IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
53.76 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Douglass, Kathe SO UVA 50.07 49.96@A 32
r:+0.68 22.98 49.96 (26.98)
2 Cuomo, Alexa SO UVA 51.68 50.65 A 28
r:+0.71 23.55 50.65 (27.10)
3 Alons, Kylee JR NC State 51.11 50.74 A 27
r:+0.66 23.30 50.74 (27.44)
4 Albiero, Gabrie FR Louisville 51.98 51.59 IV19 26
r:+0.61 24.18 51.59 (27.41)
5 Nava, Jessica JR UVA 52.41 51.82 IV19 25
r:+0.67 24.14 51.82 (27.68)
6 Gmelich, Caroli SR UVA 52.00 51.94 IV19 24
r:+0.71 24.48 51.94 (27.46)
7 Ulett, Tristen FR Louisville 52.26 52.05 IV19 23
r:+0.72 24.33 52.05 (27.72)
8 Harter, Abigail FR UVA 52.08 52.12 IV19 22
r:+0.71 24.33 52.12 (27.79)
400 IM
Virginia’s Ella Nelson played to her strengths in the 400 IM by staying close on backstroke and unleashing a 1:07 breaststroke split to touch first at 4:02.62, lowering the conference record in the process. The time puts Nelson at the top of the national rankings this season as she won ahead of NC State’s Kate Moore (4:04.73), who closed in a 26.97 to out-touch Virginia Tech’s Reka Gyorgy (4:04.77) at the last stroke. Nelson surpassed Stanford’s Brooke Forde (4:02.9) on the top of the national rankings.
NC State’s Emma Muzzy placed fourth at 4:05.60 as she was expected to factor into the championship race. Coming into the weekend, the top four finishers were all ranked in the top 11 nationally so it was expected to be a fast race. Nelson’s time was quicker than Kentucky’s Lauren Poole, who won SECs with a 4:03.
Louisville’s Abby Hay, who was the top seed after this morning, faded at the finish with a 4:09.33 for fifth place. Regardless, Louisville passed Virginia Tech for third place with her scoring swim.
Event 10 Women 400 Yard IM
=========================================================================
Meet: @ 4:04.21 2/20/2015 Tanja Kylliainen, Louisville
ACC: ! 4:03.51 3/20/2015 Tanja Kylliainen, Louisville
American: * 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
NCAA: $ 3:54.60 3/18/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
U.S. Open: # 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
Pool Record: & 4:02.47 3/20/2015 Sarah Henry, Texas A&M
4:03.62 A
4:10.00 IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
4:17.30 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Nelson, Ella SO UVA 4:10.91 4:02.62!A 32
r:+0.72 26.26 55.92 (29.66)
1:27.65 (31.73) 1:58.59 (30.94)
2:32.22 (33.63) 3:06.12 (33.90)
3:34.84 (28.72) 4:02.62 (27.78)
2 Moore, Kathleen SR NC State 4:10.29 4:04.73 IV19 28
r:+0.73 26.49 56.89 (30.40)
1:27.70 (30.81) 1:57.64 (29.94)
2:33.14 (35.50) 3:08.96 (35.82)
3:37.76 (28.80) 4:04.73 (26.97)
3 Gyorgy, Reka SR VT 4:09.89 4:04.77 IV19 27
r:+0.72 26.27 56.31 (30.04)
1:27.43 (31.12) 1:57.82 (30.39)
2:33.03 (35.21) 3:08.60 (35.57)
3:37.20 (28.60) 4:04.77 (27.57)
4 Muzzy, Emma JR NC State 4:09.93 4:05.60 IV19 26
r:+0.86 26.00 56.28 (30.28)
1:27.56 (31.28) 1:58.16 (30.60)
2:33.75 (35.59) 3:09.37 (35.62)
3:37.96 (28.59) 4:05.60 (27.64)
5 Hay, Abigail SO Louisville 4:08.67 4:09.33 IV19 25
r:+0.68 26.09 55.98 (29.89)
1:27.40 (31.42) 1:59.88 (32.48)
2:34.02 (34.14) 3:09.87 (35.85)
3:40.16 (30.29) 4:09.33 (29.17)
6 Thomas, Luciana JR ND 4:14.97 4:12.89 B 24
r:+0.70 27.41 56.44 (29.03)
1:28.75 (32.31) 2:00.13 (31.38)
2:37.66 (37.53) 3:15.54 (37.88)
3:44.40 (28.86) 4:12.89 (28.49)
7 Molino, Ginevra FR Florida St 4:14.25 4:13.54 B 23
r:+0.78 26.97 57.67 (30.70)
1:30.06 (32.39) 2:01.54 (31.48)
2:37.87 (36.33) 3:15.19 (37.32)
3:45.13 (29.94) 4:13.54 (28.41)
8 Purnell, Cather FR Duke 4:15.34 4:13.58 B 22
r:+0.68 26.55 57.40 (30.85)
1:29.19 (31.79) 2:00.66 (31.47)
2:37.70 (37.04) 3:15.34 (37.64)
3:44.93 (29.59) 4:13.58 (28.65)
200 Free
Virginia’s Paige Madden won the 200 freestyle from the start to finish with a 1:42.61 as she was a little faster earlier this season with a 1:42.3, still holding the top time in Division I after Kentucky’s Riley Gaines won the SEC title at 1:42.7. Madden holds the top time nationally in both the 200 and 500 free, as she was second at the 2019 NCAAs in the 500.
Virginia scored another 1-2 finish with Kyla Valls in second at 1:44.63 with NC State’s Julia Poole in third at 1:45.53. Virginia also scored an additional finalist in eighth place finisher Quinn Schaedler (1:47.30).
Louisville’s Alena Kraus finished in fourth place at 1:46.30, just holding off Georgia Tech’s Brooke Switzer (1:46.36) who was charging hard on the back end.
Louisville is now firmly ahead of Virginia Tech for third place in the team standings.
Event 11 Women 200 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
Meet: @ 1:41.60 2/22/2019 Mallory Comerford, Louisville
ACC: ! 1:39.80 3/18/2018 Mallory Comerford, Louisville
American: * 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
NCAA: $ 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
U.S. Open: # 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
Pool Record: & 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
1:42.98 A
1:45.12 IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
1:47.12 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Madden, Paige SR UVA 1:44.74 1:42.61 A 32
r:+0.71 24.20 50.26 (26.06)
1:16.30 (26.04) 1:42.61 (26.31)
2 Valls, Kyla SR UVA 1:45.45 1:44.63 IV19 28
r:+0.67 24.28 50.73 (26.45)
1:17.78 (27.05) 1:44.63 (26.85)
3 Poole, Julia SR NC State 1:45.92 1:45.53 B 27
r:+0.66 24.70 51.43 (26.73)
1:18.39 (26.96) 1:45.53 (27.14)
4 Kraus, Alena JR Louisville 1:47.24 1:46.30 B 26
r:+0.73 24.83 51.85 (27.02)
1:19.16 (27.31) 1:46.30 (27.14)
5 Switzer, Brooke SO GT 1:47.23 1:46.36 B 25
r:+0.81 25.16 52.26 (27.10)
1:19.65 (27.39) 1:46.36 (26.71)
6 Hetrick, Paige FR Louisville 1:46.25 1:46.87 B 24
r:+0.71 24.52 51.56 (27.04)
1:19.23 (27.67) 1:46.87 (27.64)
7 Griffiths, Phoe FR Florida St 1:47.07 1:47.17 23
r:+0.75 25.01 52.04 (27.03)
1:19.81 (27.77) 1:47.17 (27.36)
8 Schaedler, Quin FR UVA 1:46.81 1:47.30 22
r:+0.73 24.85 51.52 (26.67)
1:18.86 (27.34) 1:47.30 (28.44)
100 Breast
Last season, NC State’s Sophie Hansson won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke on the very last stroke. 12 months later, it was the exact same result as Hansson ran down Virginia’s Alexis Wenger on the final 25 to win at 57.45 to set a new ACC record and win her third straight title in the event. Wenger was second at 57.60, faster than her record from this morning as those two swimmers sit second and third nationally behind Georgia’s Zoie Hartman from earlier tonight.
This was a very young field as seven of the eight swimmers will be back next season as the junior class swept the top three spots with Hansson, Wenger and NC State’s Andrea Podmanikova (58.10).
With her swim, Hansson is now seventh all-time in the 100 breaststroke, improving on her eighth place standing entering finals tonight. This race may be the one to watch at NCAAs four weeks from now in this same pool in Greensboro as Hansson, Wenger, Hartman, USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler and Texas’ Anna Elendt will fight for the coveted national title. Last season, Hansson had the top time on the psych sheet before the meet was cancelled.
Last night’s 200 IM champ, Alex Walsh of Virginia, placed fourth at 58.28 ahead of Louisville’s Kaylee Wheeler (58.74) and Virginia freshman Anna Keating (58.81). The lone senior in the field was NC State’s Olivia Calegan, who finished seventh at 59.17.
Event 12 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
Meet: @ 57.67 2/19/2021 Alexis Wenger, Virginia
ACC: ! 57.67 2/19/2021 Alexis Wenger, Virginia
American: * 55.73 3/16/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
NCAA: $ 55.73 3/16/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
U.S. Open: # 55.73 3/16/2018 Lilly King, Indiana
Pool Record: & 57.67 2/19/2021 Alexis Wenger, Virginia
58.60 A
59.93 IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
1:01.84 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Hansson, Sophie JR NC State 58.01 57.45@A 32
r:+0.74 27.23 57.45 (30.22)
2 Wenger, Alexis JR UVA 57.67 57.60@A 28
r:+0.58 27.02 57.60 (30.58)
3 Podmanikova, An JR NC State 58.84 58.10 A 27
r:+0.64 27.41 58.10 (30.69)
4 Walsh, Alexandr FR UVA 58.28 58.28 A 26
r:+0.72 27.58 58.28 (30.70)
5 Wheeler, Kaylee JR Louisville 59.01 58.74 IV19 25
r:+0.67 27.46 58.74 (31.28)
6 Keating, Anna FR UVA 59.14 58.81 IV19 24
r:+0.74 27.82 58.81 (30.99)
7 Calegan, Olivia SR NC State 59.74 59.17 IV19 23
r:+0.71 28.47 59.17 (30.70)
8 Farrington, Ade FR Louisville 59.92 59.73 IV19 22
r:+0.71 27.97 59.73 (31.76)
100 Back
NC State’s Katharine Berkoff captured her second straight 100 back ACC title with a 50.45, just off her 50.4 from earlier this season as she had the fastest time in the nation with four weeks to go until NCAAs before getting passed by Alabama’s Rhyan White earlier today at SECs. White was a 50.2 this morning as she won the SEC title two states away at the University of Georgia.
Berkoff’s swim was a second quicker than anyone else as Virginia’s Reilly Tiltmann had a huge swim to finish second at 51.50 ahead of North Carolina’s Grace Countie (51.52). Tiltmann’s best time entering the day was a 52.88 from the 2019 high school season as she may be on relay duty later in the night for Virginia in the 400 medley relay.
Virginia Tech’s Emma Atkinson placed fourth at 51.86 ahead of Virginia’s Caroline Gmelich (51.96) and Florida State’s Tania Quaglieri (52.17), who set the school record for the Seminoles.
Event 13 Women 100 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
Meet: @ 50.56 02/19/2021 Katharine Berkoff, NC State
ACC: ! 50.01 12/05/2014 Courtney Bartholomew, Virginia
American: * 49.18 03/22/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
NCAA: $ 49.18 02/23/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
U.S. Open: # 49.18 03/22/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
Pool Record: & 50.03 03/20/2015 Rachel Bootsma, California
50.93 A
52.46 IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
53.94 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Berkoff, Kathar SO NC State 50.56 50.45@A 32
r:+0.55 24.39 50.45 (26.06)
2 Tiltmann, Reill FR UVA 52.12 51.50 IV19 28
r:+0.63 25.23 51.50 (26.27)
3 Countie, Grace JR UNC 51.46 51.52 IV19 27
r:+0.68 24.93 51.52 (26.59)
4 Atkinson, Emma FR VT 52.15 51.86 IV19 26
r:+0.74 24.99 51.86 (26.87)
5 Gmelich, Caroli SR UVA 52.13 51.96 IV19 25
r:+0.60 25.31 51.96 (26.65)
6 Quaglieri, Tani SO Florida St 52.97 52.17 IV19 24
r:+0.58 24.80 52.17 (27.37)
7 Huizinga, Danik SR NC State 52.90 52.94 B 23
r:+0.79 25.84 52.94 (27.10)
8 Bentz, Caroline FR VT 52.93 53.01 B 22
r:+0.62 25.71 53.01 (27.30)
400 Medley Relay
It was a thrilling race to close out the third night of finals from the 2021 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships as the Virginia Cavaliers ran down the NC State Wolfpack on the final 100 to win at 3:26.25 to NC State’s 3:26.88. Those schools now sit first and third nationally this season with 26 days until the NCAA championships as Texas was 0.02 quicker in December. The time for Virginia is a new conference record, lowering its own time from the 2015 NCAAs.
The team of Alex Walsh (51.57), Alexis Wenger (57.56), Lexi Cuomo (50.46) and Kate Douglass (46.66) were expected to challenge for the NCAA record of 3:25.09 set by Stanford three years ago on its way to winning all five relays at the 2018 NCAAs.
NC State was under NCAA record pace through three legs as Katharine Berkoff (50.53), Sophie Hansson (57.98) and Kylee Alons (50.21) are a tough, tough trio to take down. Heather Maccausland closed on the anchor in a 48.16 as she could not hold off Douglass. Those two schools are expected to again challenge for the NCAA record in the 400 medley relay in four weeks as the medley relay will be earlier in the meet on the end of night two on Thursday.
Louisville finished in third at 3:32.21 while Virginia Tech was fourth at 3:33.18.
Event 14 Women 400 Yard Medley Relay
==================================================================================
Meet: @ 3:27.22 2/21/2020 North Carolina State
K Berkoff, S Hansson, K Alons, K Perry
ACC: ! 3:26.42 3/20/2015 University of Virginia
C Bartholomew, L Simon, E Williamson, E. Thomas
American: * 3:25.09 3/15/2018 Stanford
Howe, Williams, Hu, Manuel
NCAA: $ 3:25.09 3/15/2018 Stanford
A Howe, K. Williams, J. Hu, S. Manuel
U.S. Open: # 3:25.09 3/15/2018 Stanford
A Howe, K Williams, J Hu, S Manuel
Pool Record: & 3:26.41 3/19/2015 Stanford
A Howe, M Olsen, J Hu, S Manuel
3:31.66 A
3:33.78 B
School Seed Finals Points
==================================================================================
1 UVA 3:29.04 3:26.25&A 64
1) Walsh, Alexandra FR 2) r:0.16 Wenger, Alexis JR
3) r:0.24 Cuomo, Alexa SO 4) r:0.21 Douglass, Katherine SO
r:+0.75 25.10 51.57 (51.57)
1:18.25 (26.68) 1:49.13 (57.56)
2:12.17 (23.04) 2:39.59 (50.46)
3:01.71 (22.12) 3:26.25 (46.66)
2 NC State 3:29.46 3:26.88@A 56
1) Berkoff, Katharine SO 2) r:0.19 Hansson, Sophie JR
3) r:0.14 Alons, Kylee JR 4) r:0.09 Maccausland, Heather SO
r:+0.61 24.69 50.53 (50.53)
1:17.38 (26.85) 1:48.51 (57.98)
2:11.48 (22.97) 2:38.72 (50.21)
3:01.70 (22.98) 3:26.88 (48.16)
3 Louisville 3:34.72 3:32.21 B 54
1) Ulett, Tristen FR 2) r:0.15 Wheeler, Kaylee JR
3) r:0.22 Albiero, Gabriela FR 4) r:0.43 Regenauer, Christiana SO
r:+0.75 25.65 52.91 (52.91)
1:19.88 (26.97) 1:51.84 (58.93)
2:15.55 (23.71) 2:43.10 (51.26)
3:06.41 (23.31) 3:32.21 (49.11)
4 VT 3:33.91 3:33.18 B 52
1) Atkinson, Emma FR 2) r:0.26 Vereb, Joelle SR
3) r:0.22 Franz, Karisa SO 4) r:0.15 Shackelford, Sarah SO
r:+0.73 25.22 52.14 (52.14)
1:19.83 (27.69) 1:52.25 (1:00.11)
2:16.68 (24.43) 2:44.86 (52.61)
3:07.86 (23.00) 3:33.18 (48.32)
5 ND 3:35.90 3:35.93 50
1) Quast, Carly SR 2) r:0.17 Jew, Eleanor SO
3) r:0.19 Gillilan, Coleen SO 4) r:0.13 Wittmer, Rachel SR
r:+0.56 25.25 53.25 (53.25)
1:21.34 (28.09) 1:53.95 (1:00.70)
2:17.98 (24.03) 2:46.59 (52.64)
3:09.95 (23.36) 3:35.93 (49.34)
6 Duke 3:36.47 3:36.22 48
1) Shuppert, Emma SO 2) r:0.31 Foley, Sarah FR
3) r:0.20 Peroni, Rachel JR 4) r:0.14 Scannell, Quinn SR
r:+0.61 25.49 53.06 (53.06)
1:21.27 (28.21) 1:53.79 (1:00.73)
2:18.08 (24.29) 2:47.14 (53.35)
3:10.31 (23.17) 3:36.22 (49.08)
7 UNC 3:34.30 3:37.30 46
1) Countie, Grace JR 2) r:0.14 Reiter, Allyson SR
3) r:0.37 Vannote, Elizabeth SO 4) r:0.38 Dragelin, Amy SO
r:+0.68 25.52 52.74 (52.74)
1:21.53 (28.79) 1:54.76 (1:02.02)
2:19.33 (24.57) 2:47.82 (53.06)
3:11.15 (23.33) 3:37.30 (49.48)
8 GT 3:42.38 3:39.72 44
1) Mauldin, Grace SR 2) r:0.52 Butterfield, Claudia FR
3) r:0.26 Campbell, McKenzie SO 4) r:0.31 Switzer, Brooke SO
r:+0.53 26.16 54.57 (54.57)
1:23.51 (28.94) 1:57.02 (1:02.45)
2:21.88 (24.86) 2:50.59 (53.57)
3:14.24 (23.65) 3:39.72 (49.13)
9 Miami 3:41.90 3:39.86 40
1) Skellett, Alaina SR 2) r:0.26 Sundstrand, Emma FR
3) r:0.09 Traba, Isabel SO 4) r:0.29 Barr, Savannah FR
r:+0.60 27.02 55.09 (55.09)
1:23.45 (28.36) 1:55.91 (1:00.82)
2:20.55 (24.64) 2:49.94 (54.03)
3:13.70 (23.76) 3:39.86 (49.92)
10 PITT 3:43.05 3:43.64 34
1) Graham, Kayla SO 2) r:0.47 Fuhrmann, Kate SO
3) r:0.28 Yendell, Sophie FR 4) r:0.07 Nalls, Madison JR
r:+0.63 26.63 55.88 (55.88)
1:24.61 (28.73) 1:58.68 (1:02.80)
2:23.09 (24.41) 2:53.62 (54.94)
3:17.31 (23.69) 3:43.64 (50.02)
11 BC 3:44.19 3:46.26 32
1) Grimes, Maura SR 2) r:0.13 Barkemeyer, Nicole SO
3) r:0.05 Gannon, Mary SO 4) r:0.12 Kea, Alison SR
r:+0.58 25.95 54.50 (54.50)
1:24.74 (30.24) 2:00.50 (1:06.00)
2:25.86 (25.36) 2:55.56 (55.06)
3:19.39 (23.83) 3:46.26 (50.70)
-- Florida St 3:37.97 DQ 3:36.25
Early take-off swimmer #3
1) Quaglieri, Tania SO 2) r:0.10 Kurdi, Zsofia FR
3) r:-0.04 Halden, Jenny FR 4) r:0.11 Moynihan, Rebecca SR
r:+0.61 25.51 53.52 (53.52)
1:21.79 (28.27) 1:55.33 (1:01.81)
2:18.88 (23.55) 2:47.40 (52.07)
3:10.38 (22.98) DQ 3:36.25 (48.85)
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