Duke Wins Home Tri-Meet Against Boston College and UNC-Wilmington
The Duke swimming and diving team topped Boston College and UNC Wilmington in its home opener on Friday and Saturday at Taishoff Aquatics Pavilion.
The Blue Devils led heavily after the first day of competition and continued to stay in front through the conclusion of the meet on Saturday. The 24th-ranked Duke women defeated Boston College 287-127 and UNC Wilmington 283-132. Duke’s men topped the Eagles 276.5-141.5 and the Seahawks 252-160.
“It was so great to have people back in the stands,” head coach Dan Colella said. “We had a huge representation of family and parents here supporting everyone. We had a great group of students out here supporting us as well. That was great for everybody to finally be back to a sense of normal in that regard.”
“We talk about building off of every experience and opportunity that we come up with, and we had some great swims last week but we challenged them on some things to be better this weekend. They absolutely did a much better job with some of the smaller details. Racing the last 15 yards when they were in a dog race, they were the ones that got their hands to the wall first. Those are the things that are going to continue to help them be better every time they go out there and compete.”
Freshman Margo O’Meara and sophomore Seamus Harding Jr. led Duke on the boards on Saturday. O’Meara took first with a career-best score of 335.10 on the one-meter springboard, followed by senior Maddy Pfaff’s career best of 284.70 in second. O’Meara’s mark placed second in program history.
On the men’s side, Harding Jr. led the Blue Devils to sweep the three-meter board with a career-best 358.10. Senior Harel Anolick placed second (339.35) and rookie Will McCollum finished third in 292.95.
Duke opened the swimming portion of the meet by finishing first, second and third in the women’s 400 medley relay, and first and third in the men. The quartet of junior Emma Shuppert, sophomore Catherine Belyakov, senior Rachel Peroni and senior Shayna Hollander touched in 3:46.09 to place first on the women’s side while sophomore David Chang, senior Cole Reznick, junior Charlie Gingrich and sophomore Zach McIntyre took first for the men (3:16.90).
Sophomore Sarah Foley was strong on the women’s side, winning the 100 individual medley with the second-fastest time in program history, 56.73. Belyakov (57.22) and graduate student Alicia Harrison (57.22) helped complete the sweep of the top three spots with times that also ranked in the top-5 in program history. In addition, Foley held the top time in the 200 breaststroke (2:17.28) and placed second in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:57.08.
Freshman Yixuan Chang placed first in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:01.63, followed closely by senior Cabell Whitlow’s mark of 2:03.00 in second place. Chang, a native of Stamford, Conn., also competed in the 400 individual medley, recording the top time of the day (4:21.89).
In the 50 sprints, Harrison took the top time in the breaststroke (30.38) while Shuppert, Hollander and rookie Amaya Hanley took the top three spots in the backstroke with times of 25.30, 25.45 and 26.75, respectively. Freshman KyAnh Truong (24.77) and Peroni (25.14) recorded the top two times in the 50 butterfly.
Freshman McKenna Smith and senior Easop Lee placed first and second in the 100 freestyle, recording times of 51.22 and 52.12, respectively. Lee went on to finish first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:00.44, followed by Hollander’s mark of 2:02.88 in second.
On the men’s side, seniors David Hallaron and Reznick each won two individual events. Hallaron was the top finisher in the 500 freestyle (4:33.37) and the 200 backstroke (1:49.66). Freshman Jack Christian followed Hallaron in the 200 backstroke, placing third with a time of 1:50.64.
Reznick led a first and second Duke finish in the 100 individual medley. The Pleasanton, Calif., native took the top spot in the event with a school-record time of 50.46. Chang followed closely, placing second in the event with the second-fastest time in program lore, 50.90. In addition, Reznick also recorded the fastest time in the 400 individual medley, clocking 4:01.34 in an exhibition race.
In the men’s 50 sprints, Reznick placed first in the 50 breaststroke (25.52), followed by senior Henry Wu (26.33). Chang placed first in the men’s 50 backstroke with a time of 23.00. Gingrich and senior Matthew Whelan recorded the top two times in the 50 butterfly, 21.97 and 22.13, respectively.
Duke took first and second in the 200 butterfly as Whelan took the top spot (1:50.48), narrowly edging out junior Chris Dalla Valle in second (1:50.49).
Junior Coleman Kredich led Duke in the 100 freestyle, touching in 44.83. McIntyre was not far behind in the third place with a mark of 45.71.
Team Scores:
#24 Duke women 283, Boston College women 127
#24 Duke women 287, UNC Wilmington women 132
Duke men 276.5, Boston College men 141.5
Duke men 252, UNC Wilmington men 127
Top Duke Finishers by Event:
Men’s Three-Meter: Seamus Harding Jr. (1st), 358.10
Women’s One-Meter: Margo O’Meara (1st), 335.10
Women’s 400-Yard Medley Relay: Emma Shuppert, Catherine Belyakov, Rachel Peroni, Shayna Hollander (1st), 3:46.09
Men’s 400-Yard Medley Relay: David Chang, Cole Reznick, Charlie Gingrich, Zach McIntyre (1st), 3:16.90
Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle: Sarah Foley (2nd), 4:57.08
Men’s 500-Yard Freestyle: David Hallaron (1st), 4:33.37
Women’s 200 Butterfly: Yixuan Chang (1st), 2:01.63
Men’s 200 Butterfly: Matthew Whelan (1st), 1:50.48
Women’s 100 Freestyle: McKenna Smith (1st), 51.22
Men’s 100 Freestyle: Coleman Kredich (1st), 44.83
Women’s 50 Backstroke: Emma Shuppert (1st), 25.30
Men’s 50 Backstroke: David Chang (1st), 23.00
Women’s 50 Breaststroke: Alicia Harrison (1st), 30.38
Men’s 50 Breaststroke: Cole Reznick (1st), 25.52
Women’s 100 Individual Medley: Sarah Foley (1st), 56.73
Men’s 100 Individual Medley: Cole Reznick (1st), 50.46
Women’s 200 Backstroke: Easop Lee (1st), 2:00.44
Men’s 200 Backstroke: David Hallaron (1st), 1:49.66
Women’s 200 Breaststroke: Sarah Foley (EXH), 2:17.28
Men’s 200 Breaststroke: Henry Wu (EXH), 2:07.75
Women’s 50 Butterfly: KyAnh Truong (EXH), 24.77
Men’s 50 Butterfly: Charlie Gingrich (EXH), 21.97
Women’s 400 Individual Medley: Yixuan Chang (EXH), 4:21.89
Men’s 400 Individual Medley: Cole Reznick (EXH), 4:01.34
Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay: McKenna Smith, Sarah Foley, Alex Bumpas, Lucy Callard (EXH), 1:35.25
Men’s 200 Freestyle Relay: Charlie Gingrich, David Chang, Nick Talati, Andrew O’Brien (EXH), 1:23.52
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Duke Athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
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