2021 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships Day Three Heats: Wenger Drops 57.6 100 Breast For Sixth All-Time

alexis-wenger-
Alexis Wenger. Photo Courtesy: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

2021 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships

Greensboro, Day Three Heats

The ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships continued Friday from Greensboro, North Carolina as Virginia and NC State are in a tight team battle after last night, despite the Cavaliers winning three of the four swimming events on the heat sheets. Virginia had a big morning with 14 A-finalists in the swimming pool to NC State’s 9.

Louisville also had a big morning with 7 A-finalists, including 400 IM top seed Abby Hay.

Kate Douglass and Alexis Wenger will put the pool on ACC record watch in the 100 fly and 100 breast tonight in finals, as Virginia may very well break the American record in the 400 medley relay.

The ups, mids, downs report is below. The teams are in order of the scores from last night.

Women - Ups, Mids, Downs - Through Event 13                 
 
  1. Virginia           14, 5, 1   
  2. NC State            9, 4, 0
  3. Virginia Tech       3, 3, 2
  4. Louisville          7, 5, 6        
  5. Duke                1, 5, 9
  6. Notre Dame          1, 5, 8
  7. North Carolina      1, 3, 3
  8. Miami               0, 2, 1
  9. Florida State       3, 5, 4
 10. Georgia Tech        1, 2, 5
 11. Pittsburgh          0, 1, 1
 12. Boston College      0, 0, 0

100 Fly

Virginia started the morning in a huge way with five up in the 100 fly led by Kate Douglass, who posted a swift 50.07, which was a little off her 49.7 earlier this season. Douglass will be joined in the final by Lexi Cuomo (51.68), Caroline Gmelich (52.00), Abby Harter (52.08) and Jessi Nava (52.41) as Virginia got off to a hot start compared to their rival NC State, who only advanced 50 free champ Kylee Alons (51.11) to the final.

Douglass has a potential to chase the NCAA & US Open record of 49.26 set in 2019 by Maggie MacNeil and Louise Hansson

Louisville will have two up in the final with Gabi Albiero (51.98) and Tristen Ulett (52.26) advancing to close the gap on Virginia Tech in the team standings.

 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               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Douglass, Kathe  SO UVA                 49.73      50.07 qA     
    r:+0.68  23.24        50.07 (26.83)
  2 Alons, Kylee     JR NC State            51.52      51.11 qIV19  
    r:+0.65  23.66        51.11 (27.45)
  3 Cuomo, Alexa     SO UVA                 52.22      51.68 qIV19  
             23.92        51.68 (27.76)
  4 Albiero, Gabrie  FR Louisville          53.40      51.98 qIV19  
    r:+0.63  24.51        51.98 (27.47)
  5 Gmelich, Caroli  SR UVA                 52.29      52.00 qIV19  
    r:+0.72  24.60        52.00 (27.40)
  6 Harter, Abigail  FR UVA                 51.73      52.08 qIV19  
    r:+0.72  24.43        52.08 (27.65)
  7 Ulett, Tristen   FR Louisville          53.22      52.26 qIV19  
    r:+0.72  24.46        52.26 (27.80)
  8 Nava, Jessica    JR UVA                 52.11      52.41 qB     
             24.52        52.41 (27.89)

400 IM

NC State returned the favor in the 400 IM with two finalists in Emma Muzzy (4:09.93) and Kate Moore (4:10.29) advancing in third and fourth. Virginia only qualified Ella Nelson to the final as she is fifth at 4:10.91. Although a lot of eyes will be on the team battle between NC State and Virginia, it was Louisville’s Abby Hay (4:08.67) and Virginia Tech’s Reka Gyorgy (4:09.89) who put up the top two times in the heats as they will occupy the center lanes in the final that could go to any of the top seeds.

 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               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Hay, Abigail     SO Louisville        4:13.87    4:08.67 qIV19  
    r:+0.65  26.07        55.92 (29.85)
        1:27.91 (31.99)     1:59.23 (31.32)
        2:33.82 (34.59)     3:08.90 (35.08)
        3:39.45 (30.55)     4:08.67 (29.22)
  2 Gyorgy, Reka     SR VT                4:09.34    4:09.89 qIV19  
    r:+0.70  26.31        56.74 (30.43)
        1:28.17 (31.43)     1:58.77 (30.60)
        2:34.54 (35.77)     3:11.18 (36.64)
        3:41.24 (30.06)     4:09.89 (28.65)
  3 Muzzy, Emma      JR NC State          4:09.41    4:09.93 qIV19  
    r:+0.84  26.06        56.24 (30.18)
        1:26.93 (30.69)     1:57.34 (30.41)
        2:34.21 (36.87)     3:11.85 (37.64)
        3:41.44 (29.59)     4:09.93 (28.49)
  4 Moore, Kathleen  SR NC State          4:05.61    4:10.29 qB     
    r:+0.73  26.26        56.52 (30.26)
        1:27.64 (31.12)     1:58.71 (31.07)
        2:33.99 (35.28)     3:10.80 (36.81)
        3:41.00 (30.20)     4:10.29 (29.29)
  5 Nelson, Margare  SO UVA               4:05.02    4:10.91 qB     
    r:+0.72  27.03        56.65 (29.62)
        1:28.55 (31.90)     2:00.15 (31.60)
        2:35.12 (34.97)     3:10.84 (35.72)
        3:41.51 (30.67)     4:10.91 (29.40)
  6 Molino, Ginevra  FR Florida St        4:13.73    4:14.25 qB     
    r:+0.78  26.91        57.33 (30.42)
        1:30.05 (32.72)     2:01.91 (31.86)
        2:38.01 (36.10)     3:15.08 (37.07)
        3:45.00 (29.92)     4:14.25 (29.25)
  7 Thomas, Luciana  JR ND                4:13.25    4:14.97 qB     
    r:+0.73  26.72        56.47 (29.75)
        1:29.27 (32.80)     2:01.22 (31.95)
        2:38.89 (37.67)     3:16.36 (37.47)
        3:46.16 (29.80)     4:14.97 (28.81)
  8 Purnell, Cather  FR Duke              4:14.37    4:15.34 qB     
    r:+0.65  26.48        57.22 (30.74)
        1:29.63 (32.41)     2:01.44 (31.81)
        2:37.78 (36.34)     3:15.36 (37.58)
        3:45.35 (29.99)     4:15.34 (29.99)

200 Free

Virginia’s Paige Madden posted a 1:44.74 in the heats of the 200 free as Virginia qualified three to the A-Final with Kyla Valls (1:45.45) and Quinn Schaedler (1:46.81). Madden already won last night’s 500 free and has the fastest time in the nation this season in this event. NC State only qualified one to the final with Julia Poole (1:45.92).

Georgia Tech also got its first A-finalist of the day in Brooke Switzer (1:47.23), who was a 1:45 in leading off the 800 free relay on Wednesday.

 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               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Madden, Paige    SR UVA               1:42.39    1:44.74 qIV19  
    r:+0.68  24.40        50.96 (26.56)
        1:17.76 (26.80)     1:44.74 (26.98)
  2 Valls, Kyla      SR UVA               1:46.37    1:45.45 qB     
    r:+0.68  24.52        51.00 (26.48)
        1:18.23 (27.23)     1:45.45 (27.22)
  3 Poole, Julia     SR NC State          1:47.44    1:45.92 qB     
    r:+0.67  24.59        51.34 (26.75)
        1:18.64 (27.30)     1:45.92 (27.28)
  4 Hetrick, Paige   FR Louisville        1:51.88    1:46.25 qB     
    r:+0.72  24.45        51.15 (26.70)
        1:18.49 (27.34)     1:46.25 (27.76)
  5 Schaedler, Quin  FR UVA               1:47.14    1:46.81 qB     
    r:+0.71  25.29        52.25 (26.96)
        1:19.33 (27.08)     1:46.81 (27.48)
  6 Griffiths, Phoe  FR Florida St        1:47.75    1:47.07 qB     
    r:+0.74  25.19        52.30 (27.11)
        1:19.75 (27.45)     1:47.07 (27.32)
  7 Switzer, Brooke  SO GT                1:48.10    1:47.23 q      
    r:+0.77  25.17        52.30 (27.13)
        1:20.08 (27.78)     1:47.23 (27.15)
  8 Kraus, Alena     JR Louisville        1:44.97    1:47.24 q      
    r:+0.72  24.89        52.13 (27.24)
        1:19.61 (27.48)     1:47.24 (27.63)

100 Breast

In what was expected to be the race of the meet, Virginia’s Alexis Wenger dropped to a 57.67 in the 100 breast heats to move to the number one spot in the nation this season and sixth all-time, passing USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler from last weekend. However, the win tonight won’t come easy for Wenger, despite the fact she has some of the best pullouts in the nation, as two-time defending champ Sophie Hansson of NC State is seeded second at 58.01, and last night’s 200 IM champ Alex Walsh is third at 58.28.

We very well may see three under 58 seconds in finals tonight. NC State’s Andrea Podmanikova should also factor into the top three as she is fourth at 58.84. She has been NC State’s go-to breaststroker this season, and should play into who stands at the top of the podium tonight. Louisville’s Kaylee Wheeler also advanced to the final in fifth at 59.01.

 Event 12  Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
         Meet: @ 57.74  2/21/2020 Sophie Hansson, NC State
          ACC: ! 57.74  2/22/2020 Sophie Hansson, NC State
     American: * 55.73  3/16/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
         NCAA: $ 55.73  3/16/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
    U.S. Open: # 55.73  3/16/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
  Pool Record: & 57.74  2/22/2020 Sophie Hansson, NC State
                 58.60  A
                 59.93  IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
               1:01.84  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Wenger, Alexis   JR UVA                 58.62      57.67@qA     
    r:+0.60  27.15        57.67 (30.52)
  2 Hansson, Sophie  JR NC State          1:00.26      58.01 qA     
    r:+0.74  27.41        58.01 (30.60)
  3 Walsh, Alexandr  FR UVA                 59.02      58.28 qA     
    r:+0.72  27.43        58.28 (30.85)
  4 Podmanikova, An  JR NC State            59.28      58.84 qIV19  
    r:+0.66  27.81        58.84 (31.03)
  5 Wheeler, Kaylee  JR Louisville          59.39      59.01 qIV19  
    r:+0.67  27.44        59.01 (31.57)
  6 Keating, Anna    FR UVA                 59.32      59.14 qIV19  
    r:+0.74  27.82        59.14 (31.32)
  7 Calegan, Olivia  SR NC State            59.88      59.74 qIV19  
    r:+0.73  27.72        59.74 (32.02)
  8 Farrington, Ade  FR Louisville        1:00.64      59.92 qIV19  
    r:+0.80  28.16        59.92 (31.76)

100 Back

NC State’s Katharine Berkoff put up a swift 50.56 in the heats of the 100 back as the Wolfpack qualified two to the final with Danika Huizinga (52.90) in sixth place. Virginia also qualified two with Reilly Tiltmann (52.12) and Caroline Gmelich (52.13) in third and fourth.

 Event 13  Women 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
         Meet: @ 50.74  2/19/2016 Courtney Bartholomew, UVA-VA
          ACC: ! 50.01  12/5/2014 Courtney Bartholomew, UVA
     American: * 49.18  3/22/2019 Beata Nelson, WISC
         NCAA: $ 49.18  2/23/2019 Beata Nelson, WISC
    U.S. Open: # 49.18  3/22/2019 Beata Nelson, WISC
  Pool Record: & 50.03  3/20/2015 Rachel Bootsma, CAL-PC
                 50.93  A
                 52.46  IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
                 53.94  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Berkoff, Kathar  SO NC State            50.40      50.56@qA     
    r:+0.58  24.26        50.56 (26.30)
  2 Countie, Grace   JR UNC                 51.89      51.46 qIV19  
    r:+0.74  24.95        51.46 (26.51)
  3 Tiltmann, Reilly FR UVA                 54.43      52.12 qIV19  
    r:+0.60  25.34        52.12 (26.78)
  4 Gmelich, Caroli  SR UVA                 52.10      52.13 qIV19  
    r:+0.60  25.21        52.13 (26.92)
  5 Atkinson, Emma   FR VT                  52.03      52.15 qIV19  
    r:+0.73  25.05        52.15 (27.10)
  6 Huizinga, Danika SR NC State            53.28      52.90 qB     
    r:+0.78  25.88        52.90 (27.02)
  7 Bentz, Caroline  FR VT                  52.68      52.93 qB     
    r:+0.67  25.57        52.93 (27.36)
  8 Quaglieri, Tani  SO Florida St          53.97      52.97 qB     
    r:+0.53  25.40        52.97 (27.57)
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