2017 Women’s ACC Championships: Day 2 Prelim Recap

by Andrew Edbauer 9

February 14th, 2017 ACC, College

2017 ACC WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 2 of the ACC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships kicked off with the preliminary swims of the 500 Free, 200 IM, and 50 Free.

500 Freestyle – Prelims

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Smith, UVA – 4:31.60
  2. Moore, NCSU – 4:38.52
  3. Hespeler, VT – 4:39.44
  4. Comerford, LOU – 4:41.02
  5. Muller, NCSU – 4:42.33
  6. Arnold, UNC – 4:42.62
  7. Richey, PITT – 4:43.70
  8. Williams, UVA – 4:46.12

In the 500 Free it was no surprise that Virginia Senior Leah Smith took the top spot overall with a time of 4:31.60, and was followed by Hannah Moore (NC State) and Jessica Hespeler (Virginia Tech) in 4:38.52 and 4:39.44 respectively. Virginia and NC State each have two swimmers a piece in the A final who will be vying for crucial points.

200 IM – Prelims

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Zevnik, NCSU – 1:55.85
  2. Marrkand, UVA – 1:56.30
  3. Jones, UVA – 1:56.34
  4. Gyorgy, VT – 1:57.85
  5. Bradford-Feldman, LOU – 1:57.97
  6. Donnelly, VT – 1:58.16
  7. Kendzior, LOU – 1:58.54
  8. Cottrell, LOU – 1:58.60

In the 200 IM it was Senior Alexia Zevnik from North Carolina State touching at 1:55.85 for the top seed, followed by Virginia’s Jennifer Marrkand in 1:56.30 and another Cavalier Kaitlyn Jones in at 1:56.34. The top three are separated by just seven tenths of a second, which bodes well for an exciting final.

50 Free – Prelims

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Baldwin, UNC – 21.78
  2. Perry, NCSU – 21.80
  3. T-3 Hitchens, UNC – 21.99
  4. T-3 Caldwell, NCSU – 21.99
  5. Cooper, UVA – 22.08
  6. Fanz, LOU – 22.09
  7. Labonge, NCSU – 22.18
  8. Thomas, UVA – 22.20

The swimming portion of the morning session finished with the splash and dash, the 50 Free. North Carolina Junior Caroline Baldwin led the way with a 21.78, followed by Ky-Lee Perry of NC State at 21.80, and tying for third was North Carolina’s Sarah Hitchens, and NC State’s Courtney Caldwell, both in at 21.99.

NC State, Virginia, and North Carolina have opportunities to pick up some big points tonight with at least two swimmers in the Top 3 of a final tonight.

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UP / MIDS / DOWNS
7 years ago

UP / MIDS / DOWNS INCLUDING DIVING PRELIMS

NC STATE 6 / 6 / 2
UVA 7 / 2 / 5
LVILLE 5 / 2 / 6
UNC 4 / 4 / 4
DUKE 0 / 6 / 5
FSU 3 / 2 / 2
VT 3 / 1 / 2
ND 0 / 5 / 1 (NO DIVERS)
MIAMI 2 / 1 / 0
PITT 1 / 2 / 1
CLEMSON 1 / 1 / 2 (COME ON, GET A SWIM TEAM, EMBARRASSING)
GT 0 / 0 / 2
BC 0 / 0 / 0

Joel Lin
7 years ago

I plainly don’t see NC State overcoming UVa’s depth. The #1-6 swimmers can win relays, and that is really important. But divers + the 6-7 swimmers who hit B & C finals in all 3 events, possibly get in top 8 for 1 event…that’s what wins a conference meet.

JP name too short
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

Going to be interesting to see, but UVa left several more swims off the board (missed finals) than NCSt did. Not to mention the DQd relay is a decent amount of points.

In my experience, that’s the best way to determine who wins a conference meet/NCAAs assuming equal squad sizes.

I am hoping the Hoos can overcome that though.

NCSwimFan
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

UVA left a lot to be desired with this first prelims session. NC State was just about even with them in the 500 and 2 IM, and should score way bigger in the 50. Diving is their biggest weakness, but with relay strength factored in as well I wouldn’t count them out yet.

Eddie Rowe
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

What’s really interesting is what Louisville does to the NCSU/UVa matchup at ACCs. If Tuesday finals scores out as seeded, then its 365 NCSU, 341 Lou, 290 UVa.

Looking further through the pysche sheet, the Hoos have pretty abdicated the backstroke (Which NCSU will score well in), and will beat up pretty bad on NCSU in the Breaststroke (a known weak spot for the Pack).

The diving points are critical, but I think it will come down to the relative position of Louisville in relays that determines the outcome of NCSU v UVa. The DQd relay opens the door for Louisville and NCSU to vie for the crown. The math isn’t there to say UVa is safe.

Joel Lin
Reply to  Eddie Rowe
7 years ago

Thanks for the analysis. This should be a very tight meet if it goes along as papered up in the seedings these next 2 days. Every 9th versus 8th in prelims will really matter.

Sec Fan
Reply to  Joel Lin
7 years ago

The depth of UVA’s past is gone. I don’t really see them as a deep team. Very top heavy which will be good for NCAA’s but I guess tomorrow will answer the depth questions

Porkchop2244
7 years ago

NC state is getting this done and starting to separate. UVA and Louisville better watch out for UNC. Their studs are diving and swimming well.
Moffit has a very good chance to win two events tomorrow. UVA has no backstrokers to UNCs 4-5. UVAs breastrokers will have to step up big time to hold off Louisville and UNC. This again is the problem with shaving in December so close to ACCs

Acc fan
Reply to  Porkchop2244
7 years ago

Unc has hardly any decent breaststrokers, so that is always a very weak spot for them.

I think most of these teams suit up, but I don’t think any teams shave for their December meet.