Defending ACC 50 free champ Ky-Lee Perry is out for 4-6 weeks after dislocating her elbow and tearing a tendon, NC State says.
Perry won the 50 free at the ACC Championships as a freshman and swam on a pair of conference record-breaking relays. She had competed this entire season up to the team’s road loss to Virginia on January 19, but was absent for the next weekend’s meet at North Carolina. The program has confirmed that Perry dislocated her elbow and tore a tendon, leaving her with an estimated 4-6 weeks of recovery time.
NC State is uncertain whether Perry will be able to return this season or not. She will miss the team’s final regular season meet, the Carolina College Invite this coming weekend. The ACC Championships start on Wednesday, February 14, which would be earlier than that 4-week time frame. The NCAA Champs are from March 14-17, and are probably the only remaining meet Perry could contest.
Perry is already under the 2017 NCAA invite time in the 50 free after going 22.01 midseason. Her 100 free (49.07) and 100 back (53.63) probably aren’t fast enough to earn invites on their own, but are NCAA B cuts, meaning she could contest them if her 50 free earns an invite.
She’s a key piece of the puzzle for defending ACC champs NC State, which will now face an uphill battle to defend its title. The loss of Perry is compounded by the absence of Courtney Caldwell, an All-American relay member and individual NCAA scorer last year. Caldwell hasn’t yet competed this season, though she still appears on the team roster.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who wants to ask: what happened?
I remember checking NC State vs. UVA duel meet results and only seeing Perry on the 2 Medley Relay. I’m guessing something happened during the race?
My heart goes out to her. Hoping for a speedy recovery! Tough break for the NC State women’s team especially the sprint group with Perry, Caldwell, and Rowe out for the season
I’m not one for wild speculation but it doesn’t seem possible to dislocate your elbow with an awkward touch. Seems more likely she slipped in the locker room or something (if it actually happened during the meet). Ah well, those who know aren’t telling, I guess.
I believe she jammed the wall on her finish in the 200 medley relay versus UVA. I know the team was lifting heavy weights the week before the UVA meet so this probably would not have happened if she was not so tired.
Such a shame but eligibility is still left for her and she can combine with Caldwell and Rowe next season.
If she wasn’t lifting weights she wouldn’t have jammed the wall and dislocated her elbow in a freak accident? What?
What happened to Caldwell?
Marie gives a completely credible response, not sure for the reason behind this reply. It’s been well proven that when an athlete is immersed in strenuous training and broken down, they run a greater risk of injury. And when it comes down to it, when you’re that tired you are not as on your game as you will be come champs
Perfect timing innit