On the opening night of the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, the NC State women were disqualified from the 200 medley relay due to an early takeoff from anchor Katharine Berkoff.
The Wolfpack quarter of Kennedy Noble (23.58), Abby Arens (26.59), Miriam Sheehan (22.96), and Berkoff (20.35) combined for a time of 1:33.49 and originally placed third, which would have earned them 32 points. However, Berkoff had a reaction time of -0.17 seconds — well over the minimum reaction time of -0.05 needed for a relay exchange not to be considered a false start.
Notably, Berkoff’s freestyle split would have been a career-best and the fifth-fastest 50 free relay split in history.
All-Time Women’s 50 Free Relay Split Performances (Flying)
- Gretchen Walsh, 19.95 (2024)**
- Gretchen Walsh, UVA, 20.19 (2024)
- Anna Hopkin, ARK, 20.27 (2020)
- Kate Douglass, UVA, 20.34 (2023)
- Gretchen Walsh, UVA, 20.36 (2023)
- Maggie MacNeil, LSU, 20.37 (2023)
- Katharine Berkoff, NCS, 20.40 (2024)
- Maggie MacNeil, LSU, 20.44 (2023)
- Abbey Weitzeil/Simone Manuel, CAL, 20.45 (2019/2018)
- –
- Gretchen Walsh, UVA, 20.48 (2023)
A DQ like this could majorly impact NC State’s overall placement at NCAAs. The Wolfpack are projected to finish eighth overall, but the teams projected to finish ninth through 12th all have projected scores within 35 points of them. Assuming that results turn out similarly to the psych sheets, a DQ like this could be what pushes NC State out of the top ten.
This year isn’t the first year that a DQ impacted NC State’s results. At the 2023 NCAA Championships, the team’s 200 free relay was DQed for yet again an early take-off after originally placing fifth. The Wolfpack finished that meet in fifth place, 25 points behind Louisville, but would have been fourth without that DQ.
Princeton’s 200 medley relay had also been DQed on Wednesday night for a false start, but they were set to finish last anyways.
“But they were set to finish last anyways” ???? Why does that matter
Can anyone post a video of the exchange? -0.17 is really illegal. Like, “end of practice just for kicks” kind of illegal.
Lane 1 closest to the screen. 1:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnHH0eDyCoA
From the video we have, here’s the first frame I can say without a doubt that she’s off the block, and it looks like the flyer has not touched the wall:
Two things to remember:
1) Because -.17, it would have to be made by a human, and they haver the high speed relay exchange cameras overhead that would have been used to verify it.
It’s rare with that system to miss a call like this.
“Notably, Berkoff’s freestyle split would have been a career-best and the fifth-fastest 50 free relay split in history.”
Except you would have to add at least 0.12 to make it legal which would take it out of the top 10 or more.
Is there ever an issue with the RJP’s when an athlete does a step over start?
Yes, sometimes. That was the explanation at the MAC Championships.
Or, was the third swimmers touch a tiny bit slow?
Flyer’s finish wasnt great….
bad berkoff
Honestly it was more likely than not the fault of the flyer (whoever she was)
Shackley is going to breathe life into that team again.
Lily King the following year too.
Glad the relay take-off platforms were working (or were they?) because, watching the live stream, the officials were not in position to make a call – standing about 2-3′ back from the edge of the pool. Easily challenged if the official was over-ruling the platforms. After so many blown calls at the Conference Championships, you would think the word would come down as gospel – be in position to make a call.
Tell me you’ve never officiated relays without telling me you’ve never officiated relays 🙄
That’s not how it works Paul
They have video confirmation for all relay DQs at NCs