Leah Smith Breaks 500 Free Meet Record During ACC Prelims

Photo Courtesy: Virginia Athletics

By Chandler Brandes, ACC Beat Writer

After strong performances Wednesday night, swimmers resumed competition at the 2016 ACC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Thursday morning’s action saw the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 free.

Virginia’s Leah Smith posted the fastest time of the morning in the 500, clocking in at 4:32.51 to take the top seed heading into tonight’s final. That time broke her own meet record of 4:34.35 set in 2014, and she’ll aim to break her own conference and NCAA record this evening.

NC State’s Hannah Moore dropped nearly 10 seconds from her seed time to finish second in 4:38.02. Hanne Borgersen (4:38.72), Rachel Muller (4:39.61), Mallory Comerford (4:42.87), Andrea Kneppers (4:43.24), Emma Nunn (4:43.31), and Cece Williams (4:43.36) round out the top eight.

NC State’s Alexia Zevnik touched the wall in 1:57.16 to secure the top spot for tonight’s final in the 200 IM. She finished fifth in this event at ACCs in 2015.

Kaitlyn Jones (1:57.58), Rachael Bradford-Feldman (1:57.66), Courtney Bartholomew (1:57.72), Jen Marrkand (1:57.96), Andrea Cottrell (1:58.56), Haley Durmer (1:58.71), and Leah Goldman (1:59.41) will also compete in the A final.

Louisville’s Kelsi Worrell was the only woman under 22 seconds in the 50 free this morning, finishing in 21.93. Worrell finished second at ACCs and third at NCAAs in this event last year.

Riki Bonnema, the ACC meet record holder in this event, qualified second in 22.02. Ashlyn Koletic (22.21), Caroline Baldwin (22.24), Natalie Labonge (22.29), Ellen Thomas (22.33), Caitlin Cooper (22.42), and Maddie Hess (22.44) complete the top eight.

Virginia is in good position to take over Miami’s lead after tonight, as they qualified nine swimmers for an A final. NC State will have six swimmers in a final heat, while Louisville will have five. Duke and North Carolina will each see two swimmers in an A final.

Finals will begin at 6pm EST and will be covered live on ESPN3.

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