2019 ACC WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday-Sauturday, February 20-23rd
- Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC (Eastern Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: Virginia (1x) (results)
- Psych sheets
- SwimSwam Fan Guide
- Live Results
- Live Video: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
- Championship Central
After scoring three divers in the top 7, Florida State leads the women’s ACC after one day. But day 2 should see defending champs Virginia charge, along with top threats NC State and Louisville.
Virginia’s Paige Madden is the top seed in the 500 free at 4:39.19, though she’ll have to face defending champ Mallory Comerford of Louisville. Comerford won the 500 free last year in 4:36.09. She was the top 50 free seed as well, but scratched that event in favor of the 500.
NC State’s Julia Poole is the top returner in the 200 IM. She was third last year behind Leah Goldman (graduated) and Rachael Bradford-Feldman (no longer swimming). But the top seed is currently Louisville’s Grace Oglesby at 1:56.85.
In the 50 free, three of the top four were seniors last year, leaving Louisville’s Casey Fanz as the top returner. But 2017 ACC champ Ky-Lee Perry is healthy again after an injury-riddled 2018 postseason, and held the #2 seed behind the scratched Comerford. Virginia’s Morgan Hill should also be in the hunt.
Keep refreshing this page for live, event-by-event updates of all the swimming from Greensboro.
Women’s 500 Free – Prelims
Top 8 qualifiers:
- Madden (UVA) – 4:39.08
- Jahns (NCSU) – 4:39.98
- Holub (NCSU) – 4:40.92
- Moore (NCSU) – 4:41.66
- Comerford (LOU) – 4:42.25
- Gyorgy (VT) – 4:43.23
- Dolan (ND) – 4:43.96
- Lee (DUKE) – 4:44.21
Virginia’s Paige Madden held up as the top 500 freestyler through the morning, cutting about a tenth from her lifetime-best.
NC State is primed to make a points run in this event, stacking three of the top four qualifiers. Anna Jahns was 4:39.98, dropping a full second from her previous best. Sophomore Tamila Holub is third (4:40.92) and Kathleen Moore (4:41.66) sits fourth.
Last year’s champ Mallory Comerford is fifth for Louisville in 4:42.25. Last year, Comerford cut about four seconds from prelims to finals, so watch for her to challenge Madden and the leaders tonight.
There were a few high-profile misses, as well. #3 seed Sophie Cattermole of Louisville added about three seconds to her seed, going 4:45.90 and missing the A final.
We’re expecting the team battle to come down to Virginia, NC State and Louisville. The 500 was undoubtedly a win for NC State, with 3 A finalists and one more scorer in the C final. Louisville put one into the A, one to the B and two in the C, while Virginia will have only one in the A and one in the B.
Women’s 200 IM – Prelims
Top 8 qualifiers:
- Poole (NCSU) – 1:56.00
- Hansson (NCSU) – 1:56.61
- Oglesby (LOU) – 1:56.99
- Richter (UVA) – 1:57.38
- Kendzior (LOU) – 1:58.25
- Morrow (NCSU) – 1:58.54
- Hauder (UNC) – 1:58.75
- Horomanski (NCSU) – 1:59.10
NC State sophomore Julia Poole kept the momentum rolling with the morning’s top time in the 200 IM. Poole qualified #1 overall, going 1:56.00. That’s not far off her 1:55.76 that took third last year – and last year, Poole, dropped almost a full second between prelims and finals.
It was another great event for the Wolfpack, with 4 A finalists including the top two qualifiers. Freshman Sophie Hansson was 1:56.61 to take second, ahead of top-seeded Grace Oglesby of Louisville (1:56.99).
NC State also has senior Lindsay Morrow (6th) and Jessica Horomanski (8th) into the A final with drops of more than a second from seed. Louisville will also have senior Alina Kendzior in 5th, and Virginia put sophomore Abigail Richter in fourth with a 1:57.38. Further down the line, NC State adds one C finalist to their four championship finalists. Louisville has two A finalists and a B finalist, while Virginia has one in the A, one in the B and two in the C.
Women’s 50 Free – Prelims
Top 8 qualifiers:
- Perry (NCSU) – 21.59
- Alons (NCSU) – 21.90
- Hill (UVA) – 21.93
- Marsh (DUKE) – 22.07
- Braunecker (LOU) – 22.28
- Visscher (LOU) – 22.30
- Countie (UNC) – 22.31
- Rowe (NCSU) – 22.38
The morning has gone about as well as it possibly could for the NC State women. A pair of Ky(-)lees led another 1-2 finish for the Wolfpack, both breaking 22 seconds this morning. Junior Ky-Lee Perry looks back on the warpath after missing this meet last year with injury. Perry was 21.59 this morning, cutting more than two tenths off her lifetime-best and rattling the ACC meet record. On alert tonight: ACC meet record (21.54 from Caitlin Cooper in 2018), ACC record (21.48 from Caroline Baldwin in 2017) and perhaps even the pool record (21.32 from Simone Manuel in 2017).
Perry won this event in 21.80 back in 2017. Her freshman teammate Kylee Alons went 21.90 this morning for the #2 spot. That’s Alons’ first time under 22 seconds.
Virginia’s Morgan Hill went 21.93 to be the last swimmer under 22 this morning. Hill was 6th last year as a sophomore in 22.21. More women have already broken 22 this year than did between prelims and finals in 2017.
Duke’s Alyssa Marsh is close, going 22.07 this morning. Louisville put two into the A final with Avery Braunecker and Jillian Visscher. Meanwhile UNC got Grace Countie into 7th, and NC State put a third A finalist up with Sirena Rowe‘s 22.38.
Last year’s third-place finisher (and top returner) Casey Fanz of Louisville tied for 9th with Duke’s Maddie Hess, each going 22.45.
As we continue to track the team battle, NC State has set themselves up beautifully with 3 A finalists and 1 B finalist, while sneaking in with swimmers in both 8th and 16th. Louisville has 2 As, a B and a C, while Virginia holds 1 A, 1 B and 2 Cs.
We’ll have a more full scoring analysis coming later today. But for now, rough math indicates that NC State has double the A finalists (10) of Louisville (5) tonight, and more than three times as many as UVA (3). Louisville and Virginia should be set up pretty similarly, with 3 B finalists apiece. Virginia has 4 C finalists and Louisville only 3, but Louisville does have that 5-3 edge in A finalists.
Am I crazy….no NC State entries in the 200 free?!
When did Rachael Bradford-Feldman quit?
I’d say after tonight the WolfPack ladies are a lock to win ACC’s. 10 in the A final? No other team is even close. A shame UVA and Louisville didn’t show up. Thought it was going to be a competitive meet. To think as well they aren’t even fully rested. Excited to see them contend for the NCAA title in March
WOLF-
Pump the brakes bro…still a lot of swimming(and diving) to do.
Nope – WOLFPACK NATION!
Again… a lot can happen between today and Saturday! Not trying to take away from the fact that NC State is having a great day… but historically teams such as UVA and Louisville have shown more depth on Day 2 and Day 3 of the meet. “Didn’t show up” is a stretch. Let’s re-evaluate that Saturday.
The powerful coaching staff at NC State continue. We all know Braden was a good head coach. But look, they replaced (and upgraded) the distance coach to Dino! Bobby Guntoro has led the helms for the fastest mens sprint relays in history – no surprise the NCSU women’s sprinters are doing so well. IMO, Bobby is the best sprint coach in the conference. Anybody know much about the supporting staff on deck?
Best coaching staff in the country
Yes, distance coach was upgraded… I would say that they are “down” at sprint after losing DeSorbo… do you not think DeSorbo could have coached those kids to the same relay time or faster??? Seriously?!!? But the fact that Guntoro didn’t screw up the recruiting and coaching from the previous 2-3 years is a good sign, now it will be a battle of who can recruit better, to an extent.
The + impact of Bernardino in the distance free, 400 IM & 200 strokes events is always material everywhere he goes. This time it looks like it might literally mean the meet goes to NCS on account of the impact.
I was also surprised to see that Emma Muzzy didn’t swim the 200 IM. I wonder if she is planning on doing a 400 IM/100 back double? That hurts just thinking about it!
To clarify. This is not a shot at Gary (WORLD CLASS coach) or Todd. The NCSU boys just did DAMAGE on the record breaking relay (400FR) a year ago, sp no, Im not sure Todd could of replicated it.
Here is my point. Ky-lee’s swim this morning was crazy quick. Would she go faster with Todd? WHO CARES!?!?!? She is going fast with Bobby (best sprint coach in the ACC). Hopefully she goes the fastest ever in the ACC tonight!!!
From what I know and have seen, Brandt Nigro works a lot with Wolfpack Women’s sprint group. He’s had success with women sprint in the past and compliments Bobby well. Different styles, but both great at what they do. Another great hire by Coach Holloway to help bring the women’s sprint group up to par with the men’s.
NC STATE has a GREAT STAFF! As for supporting staff on deck, Brandt Nigro works a lot with the NC State women’s sprinter group. He compliments Bobby well and brings a different perspective to sprint training. Another great hire by Coach Holloway – Bobby and Brandt have the Wolfpack Women sprinters swimming fast!
Wow…did not see that coming for NC State. Maybe in the 50, but not in the 500 and definitely not in the IM! Haan seems to be off so far between last nights relay and her 50 today. Any chance she’s swimming through ACC’s to have a big NCAA’s?
That’s my guess as well. I believe she is already qualified for NCs. She’s also a senior, so looking to have big swims at the main event in her final year?
I’d also just like to note that it isn’t that big of a surprise.
The 200 IM, 500 free and 50 have been 3 of their best events over the past year or so.
The team race is far from over, the 200 free and breastrokes are their weakest events, in terms of depth. Probably 1 A finalist per event… Maybe 2.
Can’t confidently see them stacking those like they did this morning.
But I would happily love to be proved wrong.
I completely agree that the meet is far from over, and I would add 100 fly to the list of events with little to no depth for nc state.
hasn’t looked as sharp overall this season, but could be
Why would one swimmer swim through the meet?? Especially if that one swimmer is not the best one on the team? I think she just might the one who is having a “sub par” meet for them this time around, but would not lower my expectations for NC’s with her.
Looks like NCST had a huge session — and while it’s still early, and without running any numbers, it seems like they are in the driver’s seat to win this meet.
Just looking at A Finalists, it paints a pretty stark picture:
NCST: 10
Lville: 5
UVA: 3
I wouldn’t jump to any conclusion yet. This morning was definitely a great morning for NC State. But a LOT can change tomorrow morning / Saturday morning based on Louisville and UVA strengths/depth. Hopefully it will unfold as an exciting competition for the team title!
Oh, we be jumping!
The more telling stat is maybe the “wasted” swims… and Louisville had 7 of those, to UVA’s 4 and NCSU’s 2. So to me it looks like NCSU sitting in first, followed by Virginia and then Louisville. Also, NCSt used 15 swims this morning, Virginia 14 and Louisville used 17. Also, if last night showed us anything, it is that Virginia’s relays are better, and they have better diving, so that should help make up some ground in the coming day(s).
Here we go…
Prelims video/stream? Where the heck is it?
ACC doesn’t typically stream prelims… finals only 🙁
They have in years past… guess this year they are dropping the ball