2024 ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
- Dates: Wednesday, February 21 – Saturday, February 24
- Location: Allan Jones Aquatic Center, Knoxville, TN
- Combined men and women
- Defending Champions: N/A (inaugural meet)
- Live Results
- Live Video: ESPN+
- Championship Central: men’s site ׀ women’s site
- Psych Sheet
- Teams: Bellarmine, Florida Atlantic (men), Gardner-Webb, Liberty (women), North Florida (women), Old Dominion, Queens, SMU (men), UNC Asheville (women)
Day two of the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship is in the books. The second night of action featured the finals of the 200 free relay, 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, and 400 medley relay, as well as women’s 1-meter diving and men’s 3-meter diving. In the team race, the SMU men extended their lead while the Liberty women surged to claim top spot status heading into day three.
Women’s Recap
Liberty freshman Kamryn Cannings put on a show in the women’s 100 fly. Winning by over two seconds, she hit the wall in a sizzling 51.26 breaking the 52-second barrier for the first time in her career. She entered the meet with a best time of 52.51 before clocking 52.10 in prelims to take the top seed. Queens freshman Madeline Foster stopped the clock in 53.37 for 2nd place, but was a slightly quicker 53.27 in the prelims. Florida Gulf Coast’s Cam Kuriger grabbed 3rd place, finishing in 54.16.
After winning the 200 IM yesterday, Queens freshman Abigail Zboran doubled up on IM wins in the 400 IM. She swam 4:14.36 en route to the win, significantly faster than both her prelims time (4:17.04) and entry time (4:23.90). Liberty gained valuable points by finishing 2nd and 3rd, as Grace Isaacs (4:15.82) and Genna Joyce (4:19.48) posted the only other sub-4:20 clockings.
Florida Gulf Coast’s Jasmin Kroll, who touched 2nd in yesterday’s 500 free final, grabbed a win in tonight’s 200 free. She finished in a time of 1:46.72, taking down her best time from prelims (1:47.97) in the process. She took the race out strong, splitting 24.69 and 26.86 through the first two 50s. Sophie Lange (1:47.66) of Queens and Shelby Kahn (1:47.71) from Liberty rounded out the top three.
Two relays were contested on the day, with Queens walking away victorious in both. They first claimed victory in the 200 free relay, where the quartet of Danielle Melilli, Ryley Heck, Maren Patterson, and Abigail Zboran touched in 1:29.98. Florida Gulf Coast (1:31.65) touched 2nd and UNC Asheville (1:32.22) hit the touchpad in 3rd.
The 400 medley relay was a much closer race, as Queens and Liberty touched just 0.17 apart at the finish. Melilli and Patterson would join this relay after helping the 200 free relay to a win earlier, with Patterson clocking a time of 55.76 on the opening leg of backstroke. Melilli anchored the team in 47.41 on freestyle, with Annika Huber splitting 1:00.32 on breaststroke and Madeline Foster clocking 53.44 on butterfly.
Liberty’s backstroker gave them a lead early on, finishing her leg in 53.97. Heather Gardner (1:02.58), Kamryn Cannings (51.20), and Sydney Stricklin (49.35) finished out the relay to touch in a final time of 3:37.10.
See a full split comparison of how the exciting 400 medley relay unfolded below, with the lead changing after each stroke transition.
Splits Comparison:
| 2024 Winning Relay From Queens | 2024 Runner-Up Relay From Liberty | |
| Backstroke | Maren Patterson — 55.76 | Abbie Shaw — 53.97 |
| Breaststroke | Annika Huber — 1:00.32 (1:56.08) | Heather Gardner — 1:02.58 (1:56.55) |
| Butterfly | Madeline Foster — 53.44 (2:49.52) | Kamryn Cannings — 51.20 (2:47.75) |
| Freestyle | Danielle Melilli — 47.41 | Sydney Stricklin — 49.35 |
| Total Time | 3:36.93 | 3:37.10 |
Diving was huge for Liberty, as it helped build a lead on Queens going into day three. They posted a 1-2-3 sweep, with Liberty sophomore Mary Herndon claiming the 1-meter diving title with 269.95 points. She was 5th in 3-meter diving on Wednesday, but won by just 0.20 today. Teammate Maddie Freece finished with 269.75 points, adding to her 3-meter diving title yesterday with a runner-up finish. Senior Meagan Tuohy (255.00 points) was 3rd.
Women’s Team Scores After Day 2:
- Liberty — 472.5 points
- Queens — 406 points
- Florida Gulf Coast — 350.5 points
- UNC Asheville — 329 points
- North Florida — 131 points
- Gardner-Webb — 115 points
- Bellarmine — 76 points
Men’s Recap
The SMU men swept the three individual swimming events contested on Thursday, with 5th year Danny Kovac kicking things off in the 100 fly. He touched in 46.08 for the win, but was a faster 45.55 to claim the top seed during prelims. His prelim time is also a new SMU school record in the event. He led a 1-2 finish for the Mustangs, as Russell Exum hit the touchpad in 46.67 for 2nd place. Queens senior Yannick Plasil finished in a time of 47.06 for 3rd place status.
Jack Hoagland added to his 500 free title yesterday with a win (and SMU school record) in the 400 IM. It was a great race with teammate Cotton Fields the whole way, as they were within a second of each other the entire time:
Splits Comparison:
| Jack Hoagland‘s Winning Effort | 2nd Place Finish From Cotton Fields | |
| Butterfly | 49.98 | 50.21 |
| Backstroke | 54.76 (1:44.74) | 55.51 (1:45.72) |
| Breaststroke | 1:03.27 (2:48.01) | 1:02.99 (2:48.71) |
| Freestyle | 53.18 | 52.71 |
| Total Time | 3:41.19 | 3:41.42 |
The time from Hoagland checks-in just off his best time of 3:40.73, which he recorded at the 2020 ACC Championships. Fields did eclipse his best time by about a 1.5 seconds en route to silver. Queens freshman Frantisek Jablcnik (3:48.22) placed 3rd.
SMU ended individual action with yet another 1-2 finish, as Christopher Mykkanen (1:34.01) led the way over teammate Jack Forrest (1:34.45) in the 200 free. Queens sophomore Daniel Meszaros made it three under 1:35, as he touched in 1:34.84 for 3rd. The times from both Mustang swimmers represent their fastest ever, with Meszaros just 0.04 his best from last year.
SMU claimed victory in both relays, with the 200 free relay showcasing a very close race with Queens. SMU touched in 1:17.74 at the finish, while Queens settled for 2nd in 1:17.82. Accurate splits are not currently available for this relay.
The Mustangs posted a decisive win in the 400 medley relay, as the foursome of Jack Easton (47.89), Lance Butler (51.71), Danny Kovac (44.94), and Christopher Mykkanen (43.14) combined to post a time of 3:07.68. The time represents a new SMU school record.
SMU went 1-2 in diving too, as John Dymond (364.50 points) outscored teammate Tyler Coffey (342.35 points). The roles were reversed on Wednesday when Coffey won 1-meter diving and Dymond finished in the runner-up position.
Men’s Team Scores After Day 2:
- SMU — 583 points
- Queens — 335 points
- Florida Atlantic — 334 points
- Old Dominion — 161 points
- Gardner-Webb — 107 points
- Bellarmine — 79 points
