Crippen Repeats in 400 IM; Evo Takes 100 Fly; Christensen Wins 100 Back
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. Claire Crippen repeated in the 400 individual medley, Megan Evo won her second individual event crown in the 100 butterfly and Mei Christensen claimed the 100 backstroke as day three of the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships continued Friday. The event, which wraps up Saturday, is being held at the Eppley Recreation Center Natatorium in College Park, Md.
With one day remaining, Virginia leads the field with 581 points, followed by North Carolina (384) and Virginia Tech (312).
“What sticks out is just a tremendous overall team effort,” Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino said. “Everyone put all their energy, intensity and focus on the team. Claire Crippen got us off to a great start this evening. Megan Evo is having in my mind the most outstanding meet of any swimmer here with her performances. Our team depth has just been outstanding; the fact that we had 15 athletes competing in the finals tonight is a really great testament to the team.”
Crippen broke her own ACC, school and meet record that she set this morning in the preliminaries, finishing in 4:08.78 to win her second consecutive 400 IM title. Amanda Faulkner placed fifth in the 400 IM (4:17.25) and Joanna Thomas finished sixth (4:17.85).
“It was awesome to finish and see my teammates’ excitement and emotion,” Crippen said. “When I finished I looked to the side of me and cheered on my two teammates finishing their races. I tried not to look at the clock; I wanted to help them finish strong.”
Evo set a Virginia school record and an ACC meet record in the 100 fly with a time of 52.60. The previous school mark was set way back in 1988 by Sudi Miller. Evo, a Beverly Hills, Mich., native, previously set the conference meet record earlier this morning in the prelims. She captured the 200 individual medley crown Thursday night, as the 100 fly was her second individual event win of the championships.
Three other Cavaliers swam in the finals of the 100 fly. Freshman Lauren Smart placed fourth overall with a time of 52.29. Liz Shaw was seventh (53.29) and Kristen Wallace was eighth (53.92). All were NCAA B cuts.
Christensen, who set the conference, school and meet record in the prelims (51.79), clocked a winning time of 52.08 in the 100 back for her first career individual championship. Smart took second with a mark of 52.84 and classmate Jenny Lewis was fourth in 53.64. Both Christensen’s and Smart’s times were NCAA A standards. Additionally, Jenny Lewis placed fourth in the event (53.64) and Erika Stewart was eighth (54.38); both of those times were B standards.
“The 100 back is my favorite event and I really wanted an individual win,” Christensen said. “We had a goal tonight to get a certain point value and winning that and getting as many teammates in that heat as we did, I’m just really happy I could lead my team. It was great to have Lauren second and having four of us in that heat is such a fantastic accomplishment.”
Virginia’s 400 medley relay team also took gold, shattering the previous conference record by three-and-a-half seconds. The team of Christensen, Katherine McDonnell, Shaw and Evo clocked a time of 3:33.49, an NCAA B mark. The previous ACC record was set in 2007 by Florida State (3:36.98); the previous meet and school records were held by Virginia’s Christensen, Ellie Freeman, Shaw and Jessica Lewis (3:38.27), set a year ago.
“As great as that individual victory was, nothing could top our relay,” Christensen continued. “That race, and watching my three other teammates finish, has been the best moment of the meet so far.”
McDonnell and Freeman made their way to the medal stand after finishing second and third, respectively, in the 100 breast. McDonnell finished in 1:00.66 and Freeman clocked a time of 1:01.97. Both were NCAA B standards.
Harris clocked a time of 1:46.98 in the 200 free, good enough for a second-place finish. Teammate Jen Narum came away with a fourth-place finish with a mark of 1:46.98. Both were NCAA B cuts.
ACC Select will provide live video streaming of the championships, which can be archived. Coverage continues Saturday at 7 p.m.
Live results from the championships are available by clicking here.