2022 ACC Championships: Virginia Women Hold Off NC State to Win Conference Title

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Virginia's Kate Douglass -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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2022 ACC Championships: Virginia Women Hold Off NC State for Conference Title

Heading into the last evening of racing at the ACC Championships, the University of Virginia women held the lead after a brilliant week that has included American and NCAA records in the 200 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay, but the Cavaliers were only slightly ahead of NC State.

However, on the final night, Virginia got three individual victories from Reilly Tiltmann (200 back), Kate Douglass (100 free) and Alex Walsh (200 breast) to open up an advantage over the Wolfpack. Finally, Virginia capped off the meet with a win in the 400 free relay to finish the meet with 1418.5 points, 71.5 points ahead of NC State.

2022 ACC Championships Links

Women’s Team Standings

  1. Virginia, University of        1336.5   2. North Carolina State Universit   1275
  3. Louisville, University of      1038.5   4. North Carolina, University of,    685
  5. Duke University                   609   6. VA Tech                           581
  7. Notre Dame, University of         563   8. Florida State University          458
  9. University of Miami (Florida)     371  10. Georgia Institute of Technolog    311
 11. Pittsburgh, University of         243  12. Boston College                    148

Women’s 1650 Freestyle

Louisville sophomore Liberty Williams dominated the women’s mile from start to finish. After a second-place finish in the 500 free earlier in the week, Williams pulled away to a five-second lead by the 500-yard mark, and she ended up winning by more than 17 seconds. She posted a lifetime-best mark of 15:43.21, which ranks just behind the 15:42.37 that Tennessee’s Kristen Stege swam at the SEC Championships earlier in the night. Those are the two fastest marks so far in the country.

Virginia Tech’s Chase Travis took second in 16:00.54, while Virginia’s Maddie Donahoe placed third in 16:03.28. Looking at the team competition, NC State closed the gap on the Cavaliers to just 15.5 points as Brooke Travis finished fourth, Katharine Foley and Yara Hierath placed sixth and eighth, respectively. Virginia’s Emma Weyant, the 500 free winner, finished almost 13 seconds off her season-best time in fifth place.

Event 32  Women 1650 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 15:25.30  2/20/2016 Leah Smith, UVA-VA
         CONF: % 15:25.30  2/20/2016 Leah Smith, UVA-VA
         AMER: $ 15:03.31  11/18/2017Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         USOP: & 15:03.31  11/18/2017Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         NCAA: ! 15:03.31  11/18/2017Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         Pool: ^ 15:32.72  3/19/2016 Leah Smith, Virginia-VA
                 15:52.41  A
                 16:25.47  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 16:30.59  B
    Name           Year School               Seed     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
  1 Williams, Liber  SO Louisville       15:53.60   15:43.21 A       32  
    r:+0.56  26.15        54.35 (28.20)
        1:22.89 (28.54)     1:51.56 (28.67)
        2:20.37 (28.81)     2:48.94 (28.57)
        3:17.60 (28.66)     3:46.19 (28.59)
        4:14.64 (28.45)     4:43.20 (28.56)
        5:11.83 (28.63)     5:40.38 (28.55)
        6:09.05 (28.67)     6:37.50 (28.45)
        7:06.11 (28.61)     7:34.78 (28.67)
        8:03.36 (28.58)     8:32.24 (28.88)
        9:01.03 (28.79)     9:30.02 (28.99)
        9:58.91 (28.89)    10:27.83 (28.92)
       10:56.98 (29.15)    11:26.07 (29.09)
       11:54.99 (28.92)    12:23.66 (28.67)
       12:52.28 (28.62)    13:21.10 (28.82)
       13:49.74 (28.64)    14:18.89 (29.15)
       14:47.32 (28.43)    15:15.98 (28.66)    15:43.21 (27.23)
  2 Travis, Chase C  SO Virginia Tech    16:09.60   16:00.54 IV21    28  
    r:+0.75  27.14        55.78 (28.64)
        1:24.71 (28.93)     1:53.92 (29.21)
        2:23.10 (29.18)     2:52.31 (29.21)
        3:21.35 (29.04)     3:50.39 (29.04)
        4:19.35 (28.96)     4:48.37 (29.02)
        5:17.49 (29.12)     5:46.64 (29.15)
        6:15.64 (29.00)     6:44.74 (29.10)
        7:13.86 (29.12)     7:42.87 (29.01)
        8:11.87 (29.00)     8:41.05 (29.18)
        9:10.28 (29.23)     9:39.74 (29.46)
       10:09.13 (29.39)    10:38.44 (29.31)
       11:07.85 (29.41)    11:37.04 (29.19)
       12:06.37 (29.33)    12:35.97 (29.60)
       13:05.42 (29.45)    13:34.82 (29.40)
       14:04.20 (29.38)    14:33.64 (29.44)
       15:02.91 (29.27)    15:32.18 (29.27)    16:00.54 (28.36)
  3 Donohoe, Madely  JR UVA              16:04.85   16:03.28 IV21    27  
    r:+0.67  26.62        55.33 (28.71)
        1:24.52 (29.19)     1:53.96 (29.44)
        2:23.48 (29.52)     2:53.24 (29.76)
        3:22.76 (29.52)     3:52.71 (29.95)
        4:22.45 (29.74)     4:52.12 (29.67)
        5:21.01 (28.89)     5:50.23 (29.22)
        6:19.45 (29.22)     6:48.72 (29.27)
        7:17.66 (28.94)     7:47.10 (29.44)
        8:16.57 (29.47)     8:45.74 (29.17)
        9:15.03 (29.29)     9:44.23 (29.20)
       10:13.29 (29.06)    10:42.22 (28.93)
       11:11.20 (28.98)    11:40.20 (29.00)
       12:09.56 (29.36)    12:38.93 (29.37)
       13:08.13 (29.20)    13:37.59 (29.46)
       14:06.76 (29.17)    14:36.04 (29.28)
       15:05.47 (29.43)    15:34.91 (29.44)    16:03.28 (28.37)
  4 Travis, Brooke   JR NC State         16:39.94   16:11.88 IV21    26  
    r:+0.73  27.05        56.16 (29.11)
        1:25.64 (29.48)     1:55.10 (29.46)
        2:24.52 (29.42)     2:54.06 (29.54)
        3:23.62 (29.56)     3:53.16 (29.54)
        4:22.69 (29.53)     4:52.17 (29.48)
        5:21.68 (29.51)     5:51.14 (29.46)
        6:20.61 (29.47)     6:50.10 (29.49)
        7:19.68 (29.58)     7:49.15 (29.47)
        8:18.68 (29.53)     8:48.00 (29.32)
        9:17.57 (29.57)     9:46.97 (29.40)
       10:16.55 (29.58)    10:46.16 (29.61)
       11:15.66 (29.50)    11:45.32 (29.66)
       12:14.98 (29.66)    12:44.81 (29.83)
       13:14.49 (29.68)    13:44.21 (29.72)
       14:14.02 (29.81)    14:43.92 (29.90)
       15:13.76 (29.84)    15:43.39 (29.63)    16:11.88 (28.49)
  5 Weyant, Emma J   FR UVA              16:02.51   16:15.14 IV21    25  
    r:+0.73  26.51        54.54 (28.03)
        1:23.31 (28.77)     1:52.04 (28.73)
        2:20.84 (28.80)     2:49.69 (28.85)
        3:18.42 (28.73)     3:47.51 (29.09)
        4:16.86 (29.35)     4:46.16 (29.30)
        5:15.54 (29.38)     5:44.93 (29.39)
        6:14.79 (29.86)     6:44.43 (29.64)
        7:13.99 (29.56)     7:43.86 (29.87)
        8:13.67 (29.81)     8:43.54 (29.87)
        9:13.39 (29.85)     9:43.26 (29.87)
       10:13.02 (29.76)    10:42.95 (29.93)
       11:12.92 (29.97)    11:43.28 (30.36)
       12:13.59 (30.31)    12:43.62 (30.03)
       13:13.92 (30.30)    13:44.29 (30.37)
       14:14.91 (30.62)    14:45.28 (30.37)
       15:15.82 (30.54)    15:45.94 (30.12)    16:15.14 (29.20)
  6 Foley, Katharin  JR NC State         16:34.89   16:17.05 IV21    24  
    r:+0.79  26.71        55.60 (28.89)
        1:24.67 (29.07)     1:54.06 (29.39)
        2:23.57 (29.51)     2:52.97 (29.40)
        3:22.55 (29.58)     3:51.88 (29.33)
        4:21.06 (29.18)     4:50.63 (29.57)
        5:20.03 (29.40)     5:49.61 (29.58)
        6:19.01 (29.40)     6:48.55 (29.54)
        7:17.88 (29.33)     7:47.48 (29.60)
        8:17.16 (29.68)     8:46.84 (29.68)
        9:16.76 (29.92)     9:46.88 (30.12)
       10:16.81 (29.93)    10:46.85 (30.04)
       11:16.98 (30.13)    11:47.37 (30.39)
       12:17.75 (30.38)    12:48.02 (30.27)
       13:18.15 (30.13)    13:48.20 (30.05)
       14:18.30 (30.10)    14:48.43 (30.13)
       15:18.30 (29.87)    15:48.33 (30.03)    16:17.05 (28.72)
  7 Luther, Madison  JR Louisville       16:35.68   16:24.26 IV21    23  
    r:+0.77  27.29        56.58 (29.29)
        1:26.37 (29.79)     1:56.32 (29.95)
        2:26.12 (29.80)     2:56.06 (29.94)
        3:26.05 (29.99)     3:56.21 (30.16)
        4:26.34 (30.13)     4:56.64 (30.30)
        5:26.74 (30.10)     5:56.86 (30.12)
        6:26.91 (30.05)     6:56.94 (30.03)
        7:26.87 (29.93)     7:56.71 (29.84)
        8:26.68 (29.97)     8:56.53 (29.85)
        9:26.29 (29.76)     9:56.22 (29.93)
       10:26.19 (29.97)    10:55.96 (29.77)
       11:25.80 (29.84)    11:55.80 (30.00)
       12:25.81 (30.01)    12:55.70 (29.89)
       13:25.66 (29.96)    13:55.63 (29.97)
       14:25.70 (30.07)    14:55.70 (30.00)
       15:25.70 (30.00)    15:55.42 (29.72)    16:24.26 (28.84)
  8 Hierath, Yara S  SO NC State         16:13.54   16:26.84 B       22  
    r:+0.71  26.76        55.33 (28.57)
        1:24.19 (28.86)     1:53.31 (29.12)
        2:22.68 (29.37)     2:52.13 (29.45)
        3:21.66 (29.53)     3:51.37 (29.71)
        4:21.07 (29.70)     4:51.00 (29.93)
        5:20.83 (29.83)     5:50.57 (29.74)
        6:20.35 (29.78)     6:50.11 (29.76)
        7:19.71 (29.60)     7:49.46 (29.75)
        8:19.42 (29.96)     8:49.30 (29.88)
        9:19.48 (30.18)     9:49.38 (29.90)
       10:19.22 (29.84)    10:48.92 (29.70)
       11:19.08 (30.16)    11:49.36 (30.28)
       12:20.00 (30.64)    12:50.70 (30.70)
       13:21.33 (30.63)    13:52.01 (30.68)
       14:22.83 (30.82)    14:53.91 (31.08)
       15:25.04 (31.13)    15:56.34 (31.30)    16:26.84 (30.50)

Women’s 200 Backstroke

In an intense three-swimmer dual in the women’s 200 back, NC State senior Emma Muzzy led by a half-second at the halfway point, but then Virginia Tech’s Emma Atkinson surged into the lead on the third 50 while Virginia’s Reilly Tiltmann jumped into the mix. The three swimmers were almost dead-even coming into the wall, but Tiltmann got her hand onto the wall first to win her first individual ACC title.

Tiltmann touched in 1:50.49, just 0.13 ahead of Muzzy in 1:50.62. Atkinson finished two hundredths back of Muzzy in 1:50.64, while the rest of the field was almost two seconds behind.

Virginia’s 1-7 finish with Tiltmann and Ella Bathurst put the Cavaliers 19.5 points ahead of the Wolfpack, who also saw Kate Moore finish eighth.

Event 34  Women 200 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 1:49.61  2/16/2017 Alexia Zevnik, NCSU-NC
         CONF: % 1:49.09  3/18/2017 Alexia Zevnik, NCSU-NC
         AMER: $ 1:47.16  3/10/2019 Regan Smith, Riptide
         USOP: & 1:47.16  3/10/2019 Regan Smith, Riptide
         NCAA: ! 1:47.24  3/23/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
         Pool: ^ 1:49.61  3/19/2016 Alexia Zevnik, NC St
                 1:50.50  A
                 1:55.05  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 1:57.11  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Tiltmann, Reill  FR UVA               1:51.02    1:50.49 A       32  
    r:+0.64  26.33        54.54 (28.21)
        1:22.23 (27.69)     1:50.49 (28.26)
  2 Muzzy, Emma E    SR NC State          1:51.70    1:50.62 IV21    28  
    r:+0.72  26.04        53.66 (27.62)
        1:22.20 (28.54)     1:50.62 (28.42)
  3 Atkinson, Emma   SO Virginia Tech     1:51.24    1:50.64 IV21    27  
    r:+0.63  26.56        54.16 (27.60)
        1:22.03 (27.87)     1:50.64 (28.61)
  4 Ulett, Ryenne D  FR Louisville        1:52.89    1:52.58 IV21    26  
    r:+0.66  26.89        55.32 (28.43)
        1:23.93 (28.61)     1:52.58 (28.65)
  5 Lindner, Sophie  SR UNC               1:53.11    1:52.67 IV21    25  
    r:+0.69  26.69        55.05 (28.36)
        1:23.73 (28.68)     1:52.67 (28.94)
  6 Hetrick, Paige   SO Louisville        1:54.04    1:52.84 IV21    24  
    r:+0.73  26.41        54.81 (28.40)
        1:23.74 (28.93)     1:52.84 (29.10)
  7 Bathurst, Ella   FR UVA               1:53.64    1:53.42 IV21    23  
    r:+0.68  26.88        55.47 (28.59)
        1:24.35 (28.88)     1:53.42 (29.07)
  8 Moore, Kathleen  5Y NC State          1:52.68    1:53.88 IV21    22  
    r:+0.67  26.86        55.82 (28.96)
        1:25.07 (29.25)     1:53.88 (28.81)

Women’s 100 Freestyle

In an anticipated race in the women’s 100 freestyle, three swimmers finished within eight hundredths of each other. Virginia’s Kate Douglass, already with victories in the 50 free and 100 fly, got out to a lead on the first 25, but freshman teammate Gretchen Walsh exploded off the final turn and came out just in front. NC State’s Katharine Berkoff, the winner of the 100 back, was also in contention, and the trio was almost dead-even coming into the last five meters. At the wall, Douglass got in just in front.

Douglass won in 46.81, five hundredths ahead of Walsh in 46.816. In third place was Berkoff, just three hundredths back of Walsh in 46.89. Those swimmers became the first three to break 47 so far this college season, while Douglass is the only one of the three who has been quicker, with her 46.30 swum on the way to a second-place finish at last year’s NCAA Championships. However, it remains unclear if Douglass will opt to swim the 100 free at NCAAs since she also ranks as the nation’s fastest swimmer and second-fastest in history in the 200 breast.

Following the 100 free, Virginia’s lead was out to 33.5 points, leaving a huge task for NC State to try to make up that margin over the final few women’s events.

Event 36  Women 100 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 46.57  2/23/2019 Mallory Comerford, Louisville-KY
         CONF: % 46.20  3/17/2018 Mallory Comerford, Louisville-KY
         AMER: $ 45.56  3/18/2017 Simone Manuel, Stanford
         USOP: & 45.56  3/18/2017 Simone Manuel, Stanford
         NCAA: ! 45.56  3/18/2017 Simone Manuel, Stanford
         Pool: ^ 46.70  3/19/2016 Olivia Smoliga, Georgia-GA
                 47.18  A
                 48.76  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 49.51  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Douglass, Kathe  JR UVA                 47.01      46.81 A       32  
    r:+0.66  22.28        46.81 (24.53)
  2 Walsh, Gretchen  FR UVA                 47.07      46.86 A       28  
    r:+0.75  22.34        46.86 (24.52)
  3 Berkoff, Kathar  JR NC State            47.19      46.89 A       27  
    r:+0.68  22.41        46.89 (24.48)
  4 Albiero, Gabrie  SO Louisville          47.67      47.67 IV21    26  
    r:+0.64  22.86        47.67 (24.81)
  5 Countie, Grace   SR UNC                 47.95      47.77 IV21    25  
    r:+0.70  22.78        47.77 (24.99)
  6 Openysheva, Ari  SR Louisville          48.26      48.26 IV21    24  
    r:+0.64  23.11        48.26 (25.15)
  7 Crush, Annabel   FR NC State            48.68      48.44 IV21    23  
    r:+0.74  23.34        48.44 (25.10)
  8 Regenauer, Chri  JR Louisville          48.44      48.60 IV21    22  
    r:+0.73  23.15        48.60 (25.45)

Women’s 200 Breaststroke

Last season, Virginia’s Alex Walsh finished fifth in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships, but it appeared Walsh may change up her schedule of events for this season after strong performances in the 400 IM and 200 fly at the Cavaliers’ midseason invitational. However, for the ACC Championships, Walsh returned to an identical program to her freshman year, which included the 200 free and 200 breast. After she swam a time quicker than last year’s NCAA winning time in the 200 free Thursday, she did even better in the 200 breast.

Facing off against 2021 NCAA champion Sophie Hansson of NC State, Walsh opened up a lead of seven tenths with 50 yards to go, and her split of 1:30.73 was less than two tenths off Lilly King’s American-record pace. Walsh ended up finishing in 2:03.02, and that made her the second-fastest woman in history. Only King (2:02.60) has ever been quicker. Previously, Virginia teammate Kate Douglass had been the No. 2 performer in history with her 2:03.14 from the Cavalier Invitational two weeks ago. Walsh broke Douglass’ ACC record with that swim, and she also beat Emma Reaney’s 2014 meet record of 2:04.34.

Hansson ended up finishing second in the race at 2:03.75, under her lifetime best of 2:03.86 from NCAAs last year. Virginia’s Ella Nelson finished well to take third in 2:04.95, not far off the 2:04.35 she swam to take second at NCAAs last year. Hansson moved to third in the national rankings in the 200 breast, while Nelson ranks fifth.

The Cavaliers finished 1-3-6-7 to extend their lead to 61.5 points over NC State, so Virginia needs only to finish the 400 free relay legally to secure the conference title.

Event 38  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 2:04.34  2/22/2014 Emma Reaney, Notre Dame
         CONF: % 2:03.14  2/5/2022  Katherine Douglass, UVA-VA
         AMER: $ 2:02.60  3/20/2018 LIlly King, Indiana
         USOP: & 2:02.60  3/20/2018 Lilly King, Indiana
         NCAA: ! 2:02.60  3/20/2018 Lilly King, Indiana
         Pool: ^ 2:03.59  3/19/2016 Lilly King, Indiana-IN
                 2:06.58  A
                 2:10.37  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 2:13.97  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Walsh, Alexandr  SO UVA               2:05.11    2:03.02%A       32  
    r:+0.76  27.84        59.09 (31.25)
        1:30.73 (31.64)     2:03.02 (32.29)
  2 Hansson, Sophie  SR NC State          2:07.05    2:03.75#A       28  
    r:+0.76  28.00        59.42 (31.42)
        1:31.39 (31.97)     2:03.75 (32.36)
  3 Nelson, Ella E   JR UVA               2:06.51    2:04.95 A       27  
    r:+0.68  28.92      1:00.44 (31.52)
        1:32.48 (32.04)     2:04.95 (32.47)
  4 Foley, Sarah E   SO Duke              2:09.05    2:06.63 IV21    26  
    r:+0.73  28.57      1:00.68 (32.11)
        1:33.72 (33.04)     2:06.63 (32.91)
  5 Podmanikova, An  SR NC State          2:08.16    2:06.78 IV21    25  
    r:+0.75  28.26      1:00.00 (31.74)
        1:33.38 (33.38)     2:06.78 (33.40)
  6 Keating, Anna E  SO UVA               2:08.65    2:07.86 IV21    24  
    r:+0.73  28.87      1:01.15 (32.28)
        1:34.13 (32.98)     2:07.86 (33.73)
  7 Wenger, Alexis   SR UVA               2:07.27    2:07.87 IV21    23  
    r:+0.62  28.52      1:00.82 (32.30)
        1:33.78 (32.96)     2:07.87 (34.09)
  8 Maccausland, He  JR NC State          2:09.20    2:12.22 B       22  
    r:+0.70  29.41      1:02.31 (32.90)
        1:36.91 (34.60)     2:12.22 (35.31)

Women’s Platform Diving

Duke freshman Margo Omara won her second diving title of the week on the platform, scoring 324.95 to edge out Louisville’s Else Praasterink, who scored 321.45. Third went to Notre Dame’s Kelly Straub (321.45).

Event 40  Women Platform Diving
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 364.70  2/22/2014 Katrina Young, Florida St.
         CONF: % 367.20  3/16/2008 Brittany Viola, Miami
         Pool: ^ 360.30  11/21/2016Yu Zhou, MINN
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                             === Finals ===                              
 
  1 Omeara, Margo E  FR Duke               293.20     324.95         32  
  2 Prassterink, El  SO Louisville         340.80     321.45         28  
  3 Straub, Kelly M  SR Notre Dame         264.05     287.65         27  
  4 Read, Amy        SR Pittsburgh         246.90     278.30         26  
  5 Vazquez, Aranza  SO UNC                316.25     275.70         25  
  6 Watson, Aliyah   JR Duke               300.05     271.20         24  
  7 Woodruff, Carme  JR Georgia Tech       239.85     268.80         23  
  8 Hidalgo, Cami M  SR Georgia Tech       297.20     260.05         22

Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay

Virginia’s women rounded out their championship performance by recording the top time in the nation in the women’s 400 free relay. The team of Kate Douglass (47.02), Alex Walsh (46.72), Reilly Tiltmann (48.13) and Gretchen Walsh (46.35) combined for a time of 3:08.22. After three straight days setting American and NCAA records in relays, the Cavaliers finished just off Cal’s 2019 NCAA record of 3:07.41 and Stanford’s American record of 3:07.61.

However, the time crushed UVA’s ACC record of 3:09.45 from 2018, and the time was more than a second-and-a-half quicker than Alabama’s winning time in the event from last year’s NCAA Championships.

NC State finished second in 3:10.27 behind Katharine Berkoff, Kylee Alons, Abby Arens and Annabel Crush. Berkoff led off in 46.93, but the Wolfpack could not keep pace with Gretchen Walsh’s sensational anchor leg. Louisville’s Gabi Albiero, Christiana Regenauer, Tristen Ulett and Arina Opeysheva claimed third in 3:10.89.

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MillerTime
MillerTime
2 years ago

FYI – Women’s 200 Fly event hasn’t been scored. NC State had 2 swimmers in top 8…would be in front of UVA …meet mobile shows scores for each swimmer for each event. No swimmer in women’s 200 fly has been scored – still as of this writing.

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