No. 5 Virginia Wins Three Events on Third Day of ACCs

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Feb. 19, 2016

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GREENSBORO, N.C.-The No. 5 Virginia women’s swimming and diving team won three events and extended its lead on the third day of the ACC Championships Friday (Feb. 19) at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

With one day of competition left, the Cavaliers lead with 897.5 points, 90.5 ahead of NC State with 807. North Carolina is third (733), followed by Louisville (707) and Duke (441).

“These women have a lot of fight in them and it showed tonight,” UVA head coach Augie Busch said. “They came out and made a statement from the first race. There were inspirational performances all around, most notably Courtney (Bartholomew) and our medley relay defending their ACC titles and an incredible showing on 3-meter by Becca (Corbett). Now we have to regroup and get ready for a critical session tomorrow. We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to defend our team title.”

Senior Courtney Bartholomew (Holland, Mich.) won the 100-yard back for the fourth time in her career with a time of 50.74, a new ACC Championship record. With the win, Bartholomew became the third Virginia female to win an individual ACC event four times, joining Mirjana Bosevska (400 IM, 2000-03) and Brielle White (100 back, 2003-06). Bartholomew now has eight ACC individual titles, tying her with Cara Lane (’03) for the most in the UVA women program’s history.

“Winning the 100 back for the fourth year in a row is was huge because it takes a lot of consistency and shows all of the hard work I have put in,” Bartholomew said. “For me to be tied with Cara Lane, who was such an amazing swimmer, for the most individual titles is such an honor.”

Junior Kaitlyn Jones (Newark, Del.) won the first event of the evening, the 400 IM, in a time of 4:06.66, for her first individual ACC title (fifth overall). Haley Durmer (Decatur, Ga.) placed seventh in a time of 4:14.32. In the B final, sophomore Jennifer Marrkand (Westport, Mass.) finished first (ninth overall) in a time of 4:09.94, which ranks sixth on UVA’s all-time list.

In the 400 medley relay, the team of Bartholomew, junior Laura Simon (Simmern, Germany), Jones and junior Ellen Thomas (Guildford, United Kingdom) just out-touched Louisville by 0.07 to win in an ACC Championship-record time of 3:28.25. That time also ranks as the top time in the country this season and third on UVA’s all-time list.

Senior Becca Corbett (Louisville, Ky.) earned All-ACC honors in 3-meter diving with a school-record score of 351.70, placing third. Freshman Kylie Towbin (New Canaan, Conn.) placed 16th with a score of 302.85, while senior Katie Warburg (Wilton, Conn.) was 20th with 286.15 points.

“It was a great day for the women,” UVA head diving coach Jason Glorius said. “We had some great performances from all four of them. Becca had an amazing 3-meter event. I’m exceedingly proud of her.”

Simon earned All-ACC honors in the 100 breast, placing second with a time of 58.73, while freshman Vivian Tafuto (Hummelstown, Pa.) was sixth in 1:00.76.

In the 200 free, junior Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and freshman Megan Moroney (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) placed second (1:42.97) and third (1:44.90), respectively, to earn All-ACC honors. Smith’s time ranks second on UVA’s all-time list. Also in the event, senior Hanne Borgersen (Frederick, Md.) placed eighth in 1:46.38. In the B final, freshman Eryn Eddy (Loveland, Colo.) was second (10th overall) in 1:46.02, which ranks ninth on UVA’s all-time list.

In the 100 fly, Thomas placed seventh in 52.57. Junior Shannon Rauth (Glenmoore, Pa.) finished 11th overall in a time of 52.70, which ranks sixth on UVA’s all-time list.

The meet concludes Saturday (Feb. 20) with the 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, men’s and women’s platform diving and the 400 free relay. Prelims are slated to begin at 10 a.m. with finals set to start at 6 p.m.