NC State Slams NCAA Record in 400 Medley Relay From Lane Eight Backed By 49.2 Fly Split From Alons

Photo Courtesy: NCAA Media

The NC State Wolfpack broke the NCAA & US Open record in the 400 medley relay to close out the second night of the 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships as they led from the outset out in lane eight, holding off ACC rival Virginia at the very end.

The team of Katharine Berkoff (50.07), Sophie Hansson (57.01), Kylee Alons (49.29) and Julia Poole (48.22) swam a 3:24.59 to lower Stanford’s 3:25.09 from 2018 as the Cardinal will keep the American record due to Hansson’s Swedish citizenship.

“I wasn’t even supposed to be on this relay, so I am ecstatic,” Poole said. “I hit the wall and I have never had so much emotion in my whole life. I did it for the (team). I am so proud of these ladies and the work they have done. I never thought this would happen.”

NC State’s splits:

Berkoff, 50.07
Hansson, 57.01
Alons, 49.29
Poole, 48.22

Stanford’s splits:

Howe, 50.34
Williams, 58.59
Hu, 50.36
Manuel, 45.80

Virginia finished in second overall at 3:25.13 with the team of Reilly Tiltmann (50.49), Alexis Wenger (57.71), Lexi Cuomo (50.62) and Kate Douglass (46.31), holding Alex Walsh for the 200 medley relay tomorrow night as she already swam the 200 free relay and 200 IM.

NC State and Virginia were looking to potentially break this NCAA record at this meet as NC State was under record pace at the 300 at the ACC Championships in this same pool but was run down by Virginia’s Douglass. NC State knew they needed a big lead to hold off Douglass if they would win the relay and their first three really stepped up – Berkoff swam a lifetime best, Hansson nearly broke 57 seconds, and Alons split a 49.2, which is one of the fastest splits of all-time behind Erika Brown’s 49.11 from the 2018 SECs.

Cal finished in third but ended up disqualified due to Emily Gantriis jumping early on the anchor leg. Texas ended up third at 3:27.83 with the team of Julia Cook (51.78), Anna Elendt (58.05), Olivia Bray (50.43) and Kelly Pash (47.57) as the Longhorns sit third in the team standings behind Virginia and NC State. Cal is now fourth but would have been second with a legal relay.

Michigan ended up fourth at 3:29.75 with the team of Maggie MacNeil (49.76), Mariella Venter (1:00.70), Olivia Carter (50.66) and Megan Glass (48.63) as MacNeil is now fourth all-time in the individual 100 backstroke behind Regan Smith (49.16), Beata Nelson (49.18) and Ally Howe (49.69).

The quickest splits outside the top four came from Alabama’s Rhyan White (50.17), Tennessee’s Mona McSharry (57.16), Cal’s Izzy Ivey (49.95) and Tennessee’s Tjasa Pintar (47.57).

This is also the first time NC State has won an NCAA title in women’s swimming as Kristen Davies had the only other title with a platform diving win back in 2009. This is also the first time the ACC has won the women’s 400 medley relay and the first time someone outside of the SEC or Pac-12 won since SMU in 1997.

 Event 7  Women 400 Yard Medley Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 3:25.09  3/15/2018 Stanford
                          A Howe, K Williams, J Hu, S Manuel
         Meet: M 3:25.09  3/15/2018 Stanford
                          A. Howe, K. Williams, J. Hu, S. Manuel
     American: A 3:25.09  3/15/2018 Stanford
                          A Howe, K Williams, J Hu, S Manuel
      US Open: O 3:25.09  3/15/2018 Stanford
                          A Howe, K Williams, J Hu, S Manuel
         Pool: P 3:26.25  2/19/2021 Virginia
                          A Walsh, A Wenger, A Cuomo, K Douglass
    School                                 Seed     Finals Points 
==================================================================================
  1 NC State                            3:26.88    3:24.59N  40  
     1) Berkoff, Katharine SO         2) r:0.13 Hansson, Sophie JR    
     3) r:0.14 Alons, Kylee JR        4) r:0.17 Poole, Julia SR       
    r:+0.55  24.15        50.07 (50.07)
        1:16.59 (26.52)     1:47.08 (57.01)
        2:09.69 (22.61)     2:36.37 (49.29)
        2:59.69 (23.32)     3:24.59 (48.22)
  2 Virginia                            3:26.25    3:25.13P  34  
     1) Tiltmann, Reilly FR           2) r:0.29 Wenger, Alexis JR     
     3) r:0.08 Cuomo, Lexi SO         4) r:0.34 Douglass, Kate SO     
    r:+0.69  24.60        50.49 (50.49)
        1:17.54 (27.05)     1:48.20 (57.71)
        2:11.15 (22.95)     2:38.82 (50.62)
        3:00.78 (21.96)     3:25.13 (46.31)
  3 Texas                               3:26.86    3:27.83   32  
     1) Cook, Julia JR                2) r:0.13 Elendt, Anna FR       
     3) r:0.02 Bray, Olivia FR        4) r:-0.01 Pash, Kelly SO       
    r:+0.57  24.75        51.78 (51.78)
        1:18.93 (27.15)     1:49.83 (58.05)
        2:12.71 (22.88)     2:40.26 (50.43)
        3:02.77 (22.51)     3:27.83 (47.57)
  4 Michigan                            3:29.84    3:29.75   30  
     1) MacNeil, Maggie JR            2) r:0.10 Venter, Mariella SO   
     3) r:0.13 Carter, Olivia JR      4) r:0.23 Glass, Megan SO       
    r:+0.57  24.03        49.76 (49.76)
        1:17.71 (27.95)   1:50.46 (1:00.70)
        2:14.12 (23.66)     2:41.12 (50.66)
        3:04.57 (23.45)     3:29.75 (48.63)
  5 Tennessee                           3:30.18    3:29.81   28  
     1) Harper, Olivia FR             2) r:0.25 McSharry, Mona FR     
     3) r:0.18 Rothrock, Trude JR     4) r:0.28 Pintar, Tjasa SR      
    r:+0.52  25.52        53.70 (53.70)
        1:20.41 (26.71)     1:50.86 (57.16)
        2:14.57 (23.71)     2:42.34 (51.48)
        3:05.27 (22.93)     3:29.81 (47.47)
  6 Louisville                          3:32.15    3:29.91   26  
     1) Ulett, Tristen FR             2) r:0.30 Wheeler, Kaylee JR    
     3) r:0.24 Albiero, Gabi FR       4) r:0.13 Regenauer, Chriiana SO
    r:+0.80  25.53        52.39 (52.39)
        1:19.29 (26.90)     1:50.54 (58.15)
        2:14.36 (23.82)     2:41.98 (51.44)
        3:04.46 (22.48)     3:29.91 (47.93)
  7 Ohio St                             3:29.39    3:30.22   24  
     1) Crane, Emily JR               2) r:0.23 Bach, Hannah SO       
     3) r:0.20 Zenick, Katherine FR   4) r:0.25 Petrak, Taylor SR     
    r:+0.74  24.86        52.37 (52.37)
        1:19.18 (26.81)     1:50.36 (57.99)
        2:13.60 (23.24)     2:42.06 (51.70)
        3:04.90 (22.84)     3:30.22 (48.16)
  8 Stanford                            3:30.08    3:30.26   22  
     1) Rudolph, Janelle FR           2) r:0.08 Raab, Allie JR        
     3) r:0.08 Wheal, Emma SO         4) r:0.09 Fackenthal, Amalie JR 
    r:+0.67  25.36        52.54 (52.54)
        1:19.61 (27.07)     1:50.72 (58.18)
        2:14.25 (23.53)     2:42.19 (51.47)
        3:04.93 (22.74)     3:30.26 (48.07)
  9 Alabama                             3:29.19    3:30.69   18  
     1) White, Rhyan JR               2) r:0.42 Petkova, Diana FR     
     3) r:0.39 Felner, Gracie FR      4) r:0.24 Dupre, Cora SO        
    r:+0.60  23.94        50.17 (50.17)
        1:17.56 (27.39)     1:49.64 (59.47)
        2:14.00 (24.36)     2:42.82 (53.18)
        3:05.31 (22.49)     3:30.69 (47.87)
 10 Kentucky                            3:30.44    3:31.13   14  
     1) Brooks, Caitlin SO            2) r:0.15 Davey, Gillian SO     
     3) r:0.19 Gati, Izzy JR          4) r:0.05 Gaines, Riley JR      
    r:+0.53  24.91        52.04 (52.04)
        1:19.77 (27.73)     1:51.40 (59.36)
        2:15.21 (23.81)     2:43.04 (51.64)
        3:05.81 (22.77)     3:31.13 (48.09)
 11 Georgia                             3:29.41    3:31.99   12  
     1) Fa'Amausili, Gabi SR          2) r:0.45 Hartman, Zoie SO      
     3) r:0.44 Harnish, Courtney SR   4) r:0.25 Parker, Maxine FR     
    r:+0.67  25.44        53.01 (53.01)
        1:20.35 (27.34)     1:51.56 (58.55)
        2:15.92 (24.36)     2:44.18 (52.62)
        3:07.15 (22.97)     3:31.99 (47.81)
 12 Northwestern                        3:29.58    3:32.01   10  
     1) Lepisova, Emma SO             2) r:0.21 Angus, Sophie SR      
     3) r:0.21 Guevara, Miriam JR     4) r:0.32 Smith, Maddie SR      
    r:+0.71  26.13        53.64 (53.64)
        1:20.80 (27.16)     1:51.70 (58.06)
        2:15.45 (23.75)     2:43.75 (52.05)
        3:06.97 (23.22)     3:32.01 (48.26)
 13 USC                                 3:31.53    3:32.09    8  
     1) Janvier, Aela SO              2) r:0.23 Dobler, Kaitlyn FR    
     3) r:0.22 Schlicht, Jemma SR     4) r:0.32 Ciesla, Marta SR      
    r:+0.71  25.83        53.36 (53.36)
        1:20.18 (26.82)     1:51.51 (58.15)
        2:15.27 (23.76)     2:43.31 (51.80)
        3:06.43 (23.12)     3:32.09 (48.78)
 14 UNC                                 3:33.18    3:32.49    6  
     1) Countie, Grace JR             2) r:0.38 Higgs, Lilly JR       
     3) r:0.23 Lindner, Sophie JR     4) r:0.20 Lowe, Heidi JR        
    r:+0.79  24.99        51.97 (51.97)
        1:19.90 (27.93)     1:51.34 (59.37)
        2:15.00 (23.66)     2:43.29 (51.95)
        3:06.42 (23.13)     3:32.49 (49.20)
 15 Texas A&M                           3:32.35    3:32.64    4  
     1) Eisenmann, Kara SR            2) r:0.13 Smith, Alaya FR       
     3) r:0.12 Pike, Taylor SR        4) r:0.22 Stepanek, Chloe FR    
    r:+0.71  25.59        53.16 (53.16)
        1:20.77 (27.61)     1:52.68 (59.52)
        2:16.86 (24.18)     2:44.38 (51.70)
        3:07.41 (23.03)     3:32.64 (48.26)
 16 Florida                             3:33.78    3:33.06    2  
     1) Minnich, Katie JR             2) r:0.06 Porter, Cecilia FR    
     3) r:0.93 Bates, Talia SO        4) r:0.26 Mack, Katie SO        
    r:+0.57  26.01        53.49 (53.49)
        1:20.71 (27.22)     1:52.19 (58.70)
        2:16.38 (24.19)     2:44.13 (51.94)
        3:07.16 (23.03)     3:33.06 (48.93)
 17 Virginia Tech                       3:33.18    3:33.07  
     1) Atkinson, Emma FR             2) r:0.23 Vereb, Joelle SR      
     3) r:0.12 Franz, Karisa SO       4) r:0.15 Shackelford, Sarah SO 
    r:+0.77  24.71        51.44 (51.44)
        1:19.74 (28.30)   1:52.66 (1:01.22)
        2:17.17 (24.51)     2:45.37 (52.71)
        3:07.85 (22.48)     3:33.07 (47.70)
 18 Missouri                            3:32.35    3:33.30  
     1) Rees, Meredith SO             2) r:0.42 Brathwaite, Katrina SO
     3) r:0.28 Thompson, Sarah SR     4) r:0.24 Keil, Megan JR        
    r:+0.74  25.37        52.41 (52.41)
        1:20.55 (28.14)   1:53.11 (1:00.70)
        2:16.07 (22.96)     2:44.78 (51.67)
        3:07.78 (23.00)     3:33.30 (48.52)
 -- California                          3:26.70         DQ  
      Early take-off swimmer #4
     1) Stadden, Isabelle FR          2) r:0.04 Rajic, Ema JR         
     3) r:0.09 Ivey, Isabel JR        4) r:-0.06 Gantriis, Emily FR   
    r:+0.64  24.59        51.14 (51.14)
        1:17.63 (26.49)     1:48.75 (57.61)
        2:11.49 (22.74)     2:38.70 (49.95)
        3:00.71 (22.01)          DQ (47.56)
 -- UCLA                                3:33.65         DQ  
      Stroke Infraction swimmer #4: Other - Misc
     1) Kosturos, Sophia SO           2) Grover, Claire JR            
     3) r:0.21 Baron, Sam FR          4) r:0.28 Schaffer, Brooke SO   
    r:+0.67  25.29        53.92 (53.92)
        1:20.64 (26.72)     1:52.84 (58.92)
        2:16.68 (23.84)     2:45.38 (52.54)
        3:08.43 (23.05)          DQ (49.86)

Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 7                      
 
  1. Virginia                          184  
  2. NC State                          124
  3. Texas                             119 
  4. California                        114
  5. Ohio St                           101.5 
  6. Alabama                            90
  7. Georgia                            85 
  8. Stanford                           84
  9. Michigan                           78 
 10. Kentucky                           65
 11. Louisville                         62 
 12. UNC                                61
 13. Missouri                           55 
 14. Florida                            53.5
 15. Tennessee                          51 
 16. Indiana                            30
 16. Texas A&M                          30 
 18. Northwestern                       28
 19. Wisconsin                          23 
 20. Southern California                21
 21. Miami                              20 
 21. Minnesota                          20
 23. Arkansas                           16 
 24. Arizona                            15
 25. Virginia Tech                      11 
 26. Nebraska                            3
 26. Akron                               3 
 28. Duke                                2
 29. Houston                             1

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