Bartholomew, Smith Help USA Win Duel in the Pool

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Dec. 12, 2015

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INDIANAPOLIS-Virginia swimming standouts Courtney Bartholomew and Leah Smith aided Team USA to the team win at the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool, which concluded Saturday (Dec. 12) at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis.

The Duel in the Pool, contested every two years, features swimmers from the United States squaring off against Europe’s best in a short-course meters, dual-meet format. The United States won the meet, 155-107.

Bartholomew, a senior from Holland, Mich., led off the American 4×100-meter medley relay that broke the world record in a time of 3:45.20. Bartholomew led off with a 56.08 on the backstroke leg and was followed by Team USA teammates Katie Meili, Kelsi Worrell and Simone Manuel.

In the 100m back individual event, Bartholomew captured the win and broke Natalie Coughlin’s four-year old American record in 55.92. With that time, Bartholomew moved into sixth all-time in the event.

Bartholomew also finished second in the 200m back in 2:01.33, ninth all-time in the event.

Smith, a junior from Pittsburgh, captured the 800m free in a time of 8:10.03, the 13th-fastest mark of all time in the event’s history and the fastest time in the world this year. Smith finished fourth in the 400m free in 3:59.24.

In addition to Bartholomew and Smith, UVA head coach Augie Busch served as a women’s assistant coach for Team USA.