/
.
Virginia Captures Lead on Second Day of ACCs
Story Links
Feb. 19, 2015
Championship Central | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ATLANTA-The No. 8 Virginia women’s swimming and diving team took over the lead on the second day of action at the ACC Championships Thursday (Feb. 19) at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.
After two days, the Cavaliers lead with 486 points, ahead of North Carolina (458), NC State (383), Louisville (369), Virginia Tech (342), Miami (267), Notre Dame (251), Florida State (232), Pitt (218), Duke (207), Georgia Tech (99), Boston College (60) and Clemson (4).
“I thought we had a solid day and closed tonight with an awesome 200 freestyle relay,” UVa head coach Augie Busch said. “All four in the relay put in strong performances and it was a great cap to the day. For them to step up in that relay after not having their best individual events showed great character.”
Sophomore Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) successfully defended her 500 free title in a time of 4:35.67. It is Smith’s third individual ACC title (1,650 free in 2014) and fifth overall (800 free relay in 2014 and 2015).
“It was awesome to swim in the final with three of my teammates and see the team continue to swim well,” Smith said. “Coach (Cory) Chitwood just wanted me to swim my own race and just step on the gas pedal and don’t let go and it was really cool defending my title.”
Freshman Cece Williams (Tallahassee, Fla.) also earned All-ACC honors in the 500 free, finishing third in a time of 4:43.09. Junior Hanne Borgersen (Frederick, Md.) and senior Alison Haulsee (Glen Allen, Va.) placed fifth (4:43.52) and eighth (4:50.40), respectively.
In the 200 IM, sophomore Kaitlyn Jones (Newark, Del.) and junior Courtney Bartholomew (Holland, Mich.) earned All-ACC honors, placing second and third in 1:56.38 and 1:56.53, respectively. Senior Ellen Williamson (Ft. Mitchell, Ky.) finished fourth in 1:57.42.
The 200 free relay team of freshman Caitlin Cooper (Atlanta, Ga.), sophomores Ellen Thomas (Guildford, United Kingdom) and Shannon Rauth (Glenmoore, Pa.) and Williamson placed third in a time of 1:29.52.
Thomas touched seventh in the 50 free in a time of 22.56.
Junior Becca Corbett (Louisville, Ky.) placed 12th in women’s 1-meter diving with a score of 273.90.
The action continues Friday (Feb. 20) with the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, men’s 3-meter diving and the 400 medley relay. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. with finals starting at 6 p.m.