Florida State and North Carolina Break Pool Records on Opening Day of ACC Women’s Championships

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, February 14. OPENING day of the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Swimming and Men's and Women's Diving Championships wrapped up in thrilling fashion Wednesday night, as North Carolina and Florida State each broke pool records at the Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill, N.C. The No. 7 Seminoles totaled 72 points on the day to take a lead heading into day two of the ACC Championships.

Defending league champion Florida State came in a close second as the Seminoles racked up 70 points in the team standings. No. 20 Virginia notched a spot at third with 64 points, while Virginia Tech and Maryland tallied 62 and 58 points to round out the top five teams, respectively.

Clemson combined for 54 points to stand in sixth, followed by Miami (48), NC State (36), Duke (34), Georgia Tech (32) and Boston College (30).

North Carolina opened the day with a big splash as the quartet of Ashley Howard, Eliza Butts, Kelsey Morrissy and Whitney Sprague broke the Koury Natatorium pool record in the 800-yard medley relay, posting an NCAA "B" cut time of 7:14.38. The time is also the fastest in the league this season, as the Tar Heels have now won the 800 relay title a league-best 11 times.

Last year's 800 relay winner Virginia came in second as Megan Evo, Katy Bland, Jenna Harris and Jess Lewis combined for a runner-up finish with an NCAA "B" cut time of 7:16.56. Maryland's foursome of Andrea Lehner, Nina Rossi, Maya Finkler and Sasha Malanina also recorded an NCAA "B" cut, turning in a 7:17.61 for third.

Florida State, Virginia Tech and Clemson each swam NCAA "B" standard times and rounded out the top six, respectively.

Capping off the evening, FSU secured a big victory as the quartet of Christie Raleigh, Lauren Brick, Lauren Sparg and Abbie King turned in a NCAA "A" cut time of 1:39.20 to clinch the 200-yard medley relay for the second year in a row. That time broke the previous UNC pool record of 1:41.33, set by Virginia in 2000. The win also gave the Seminoles their third league title in the event in three of the last four years.

Virginia Tech's Katie Suhr, Jessica Botzum, Megan Newell and Sara Smith finished second in the 200 medley relay with an NCAA "B" time of 1:41.08, while North Carolina's foursome of Meagan Eickman, Alison Clemens, Lindsey Marck and Kelsey Morrissy combined for a a NCAA "B" time of 1:41.15 and a third-place finish. Virginia and Clemson also recorded NCAA B marks in the event, placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

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