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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia women’s 400 medley relay team broke the school record Thursday on the first day of the UVa Invitational, while senior Pat Mellors set the Aquatic and Fitness Center pool record in the 200 IM. The Cavalier women have tallied 490 points through 12 events to lead West Chester (247) and Yale (242). The men, meanwhile, have earned 480 points, while Yale is currently second (197) and West Chester (168).
The women’s 400 medley relay team of Lauren Smart, Ellie Freeman, Megan Evo and Kristen Moores finished in an NCAA B time of 3:37.39, breaking the Virginia record of 3:38.27 set last year by Mei Christensen, Ellie Freeman, Liz Shaw and Jessica Lewis. The pool record of 3:40.89 set last season was also shattered. Additionally, the second-place team of Christensen, Katherine McDonnell, Shaw and Kristen Wallace set a B time, finishing in 3:38.95.
“I get really pumped up for relays I love being a part of them,” Moores said. “And anchoring them there is no better place to be than in the back half of a relay. I felt really strong and our whole relay did an awesome job tonight.”
Mellors led the way in a 1-2-3 finish for the Cavaliers in the 200 IM. Mellors swam for an AFC pool record and an NCAA B qualifying time, finishing in 1:46.58. The previous pool record was set last season, with former Cavalier Bo Greenwood swimming in 1:46.87 as an unattached swimmer. John Azar and Tim Hayes placed second and third in the event, with times of 1:48.15 and 1:49.76, respectively.
“I have never been that fast in season,” Mellors said. “It wasn’t like I came in and felt incredible; I was pretty surprised. But it’s a great feeling. Part of the reason I swam so fast was that everyone was throwing down an incredible time.”
The women also came out strong in the 200 IM with Liz Shaw and Megan Evo going 1-2. Shaw’s mark of 2:00.11 was good enough for an NCAA B mark. Evo finished in 2:01.03.
In the 500 free, Jen Narum and Jenna Harris each claimed NCAA B qualifying standards. Narum claimed first-place honors with a time of 4:46.55 while Harris was second in 4:48.11. Katya Bachrouche finished third in a time of 4:50.21.
Two more NCAA B marks came in the men’s 500 free, achieved by Matt McLean (4:16.91) and John Snawerdt (4:19.85) who finished first and second, respectively. Teammate Darren Ankosko was third with a mark of 4:23.16.
Christensen took first-place honors in the 50 free, clocking a time of 23.07. Moores finished second (23.62) and Wallace was third (23.19). Scot Robison paced the men in the 50 free, finishing in 20.14, with teammate Lee Robertson (20.39) second and Peter Geissinger (20.68) third).
Both 200 free relay teams got the meet started. The women’s squad of Christensen, Wallace, Smart and Hannah David claimed top honors, finishing in a time of 1:32.02. The men, meanwhile, also finished first with a time of 1:19.87. Alex German, Geissinger, Robertson and Robison swam for the Orange and Blue.
The men’s 400 medley relay ended day one of the event, with Tony Colella, Ryan Hurley, Robison and McLean winning in a time of 3:15.55.
“I was very pleased with this evening,” Virginia head coach Mark Berardino said. “One of the big differences between this morning and tonight was the team raised their level of emotion, energy and enthusiasm. They shared that and it really helped. The key to the meet was how well we started out in the 200 free relays. We swam tremendously well and the whole team caught on fire.”
On the boards, first-year Sarah Andrekovich took home first-place accolades on the 3-meter board with a score of 242.55. She also finished second on the 1-meter board.
Day two of the UVa Invitational continues with prelims at 11 a.m. Friday. The finals are set for 6 p.m.