Virginia Sets Two School Records on First Night of ACCs

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Feb. 17, 2016

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GREENSBORO, N.C.-The No. 5 Virginia women’s swimming and diving team set two school records on the first day of the ACC Championships Wednesday (Feb. 17) at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.

After the first day of action, Virginia sits in fifth place with 140 points, behind Miami (155), North Carolina (154), Louisville (146.5) and NC State (142).

“I am very pleased with how the meet has started,” UVA head coach Augie Busch said. “We broke two school records tonight, yet left the pool knowing we have better swimming in us. Each team member is so excited to race and equally excited to invest their energy and emotion in each other, which is awesome to witness. The next three days present a huge challenge for us, but we are eager to take it head on.”

The Cavalier foursome of junior Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.), freshman Megan Moroney (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), junior Kaitlyn Jones (Newark, Del.) and sophomore Jennifer Marrkand (Westport, Mass.) won the 800-yard free relay in an ACC and UVA-record time of 6:59.98. It is the ninth-consecutive year, the Cavaliers have won the event. UVA led from the start, with Smith’s lead-off 200 free clocking in at 1:43.15, a new ACC Championship record and second all-time at UVA. Smith’s time is also the top mark in the country this year.

The 200 medley relay team of senior Courtney Bartholomew (Holland, Mich.), juniors Laura Simon (Simmern, Germany) and Ellen Thomas (Guildford, United Kingdom) and sophomore Caitlin Cooper (Atlanta, Ga.) placed second in a school-record time of 1:35.57.

In women’s 1-meter diving, senior Katie Warburg (Wilton, Conn.) placed 11th with a score of 281.30, while fellow senior Becca Corbett (Louisville, Ky.) and sophomore Corey Johnson (Ambler, Pa.) placed 22nd and 24th, respectively.

In the men’s 3-meter diving competition, seniors Carl Buergler (Arlington, Va.) and Jordan Sacks (Wilmette, Ill.) placed 10th (334.60) and 12th (325.25), respectively, while fellow senior Colby Shinholser (Burtonsville, Md.) finished 21st.

“We had some strong performances today, but we also have a lot of room for improvement,” UVA head diving coach Jason Glorius said. “We need to do better over the course of these next three days.”

The action continues Thursday (Feb. 18) with the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, men’s 1-meter diving and 200 free relay. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. with finals starting at 6 p.m.