Wolfpack Men Still Leading After Two Nights at NC State Invite

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Day two of the NC State Invitational featured more strong swims from the host Wolfpack, including wins in all four relays contested. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held was key in both men’s relays while also picking up his second individual win of the meet.

But North Carolina is holding tough in the women’s team race, actually leading NC State 1277.5 to 1258 heading into the final day. The Wolfpack men, however, remain up big, with a 1288-1045 margin over Notre Dame.

The Wolfpack kicked things off with a dominant performance in the women’s 200 medley relay. Elise Haan, Kayla Brumbaum, Krista Duffield and Ky-Lee Perry finished in 1:36.80, well ahead of Duke’s second-place time of 1:38.49. North Carolina finished just back of the Blue Devils in third at 1:38.74.

The men’s 200 medley relay was tighter, but NC State still managed to get the win as Held anchored in a blistering 18.75. Hennessey Stuart, Derek Hren and Soeren Dahl provided the first three legs of the relay, and the foursome combined to post a 1:25.33. Duke, only a tenth back before Held entered the water, settled for second in 1:26.27, just ahead of Tennessee (1:26.29).

Tennessee’s Meghan Small posted a win in the women’s 400 IM, touching in 4:11.92 to beat out UNC’s Catherine Hulsey (4:13.02) and NC State’s Jessica Horomanski (4:14.80). Another Volunteer cruised in the men’s 400 IM as Tennessee’s Sam McHugh won the race in 3:42.54. NC State’s Anton Ipsen finished almost three seconds back in 3:45.40, and UNC’s Jorden Merrilees touched third in 3:48.38.

North Carolina’s Hellen Moffitt picked up the win in her signature event, the women’s 100 fly, but not without a pair of Blue Devils breathing down her neck. Moffitt touched in 51.73, just ahead of Duke’s Leah Goldman (52.22) and Alyssa Marsh (52.79). Held then won his second event of the meet with a 46.06 in the men’s 100 fly. Notre Dame finished 2-3 in this one with Justin Plaschka (46.82) and Matt Grauslys (47.35).

Notre Dame’s Abbie Dolan picked up top honors in the women’s 200 free with a time of 1:46.31. NC State’s Christine Kerr grabbed second in 1:47.28, and Duke’s Britt Friese touched third in 1:47.67. In the men’s 200 free, Dahl held on to win for the Wolfpack in 1:35.28, and teammate Mark McGlaughlin touched third in 1:36.47, with Notre Dame’s Reed Fujan (1:36.28) splitting the pair.

After posting a swift 59.55 in the women’s 100 breast during morning prelims, NC State’s Brumbaum came back to win the event comfortably in finals, clocking 1:00.10. Tennessee’s Colleen Callahan touched second in 1:00.79, and Notre Dame’s Meghan O’Donnell was third in 1:01.49. Duke then finished 1-2 in a tight men’s 100 breast. Peter Kropp won in 52.93, just ahead of teammate Dylan Payne (53.09) and NC State’s Derek Hren (53.13).

The Wolfpack dominted both 100 back races. Moffitt took the early lead for UNC in the women’s final, but NC State’s Alexia Zevnik passed her on the last 25 and won in 52.12. Moffitt finished second in 52.28, and Haan touched third in 52.78. In the men’s race, Stuart won in 46.78 with Wolfpack teammate Coleman Stewart next to finish in 47.12. Duke’s Max St George came in third (47.43).

North Carolina swept the top two spots in the women’s one-meter diving. Elissa Dawson scored 295.50 to lead the way with teammate Maria Lohman (289.50) second and Tennessee’s Rachel Rubadoe (278.00) third. Tennessee’s Liam Stone then picked up top honors in the men’s three-meter, scoring 380.15. Notre Dame’s Jack Coumos had the next-best score with 374.90, and UNC’s Jack Nyquist was third with 371.90.

NC State took first in the women’s 800 free relay by six seconds as Zevnik, Rachel Muller, Christine Kerr and Hannah Moore posted a 7:06.93. Duke finished second in 7:12.73, and North Carolina finished third in 7:13.56. The Wolfpack men enjoyed almost as large a margin of victory, finishing in 6:23.26 with Held, Ipsen, McGlaughlin and Dahl. UNC came in at 6:28.74, just ahead of NC State’s “B” team (6:29.07).

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