2024 ACC Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2024 ACC SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, February 20 to Saturday, February 24, 2023
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Defending Champions: NC State men / Virginia women
• Full Event Schedule
• Championship Central
• Live Results
• Live Streaming
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Recap

The 2024 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships continue this evening with plenty action-packed events. Individually, we’ll see finals of the 200 fly, 100 back, and 100 breast, along with the women’s platform diving event. Then, timed finals of the 400 medley relay will cap off the session.

Plenty of meet or conference records could be in danger tonight. Alex Walsh, who despite being the NCAA runner-up in the 200 fly, had never swum that event at ACCs, and in her very first ACC champs 200 fly, this morning, she broke the meet record. Look for that record to go down again, she could near her our own overall conference meet as well. The 100 back will feature one of the fastest women ever in the event, NC State’s Katharine Berkoff, who should earn her fifth-straight ACC title. In the 100 breast, Jasmine Nocentini doesn’t seem to likely to clip Sophie Hanson’s conference record, but she should be the favorite to win after being the only woman to go under 59 seconds this morning.

NC State freshman Bayleigh Cranford came out of this morning’s platform diving prelims as the top seed, but watch out for UNC’s Aranza Vazquez. She’s already won the 1m and 3m events, and a win here tonight would give her the diving sweep for the second straight year.

On the men’s side, NC State’s Aiden Hayes, who won this event at ACCs and NCAAs last year, will square off against a field that includes his teammate Noah Bowers, who posted the top time of the morning. Another member of the Wolfpack, Kacper Stokowski, will be swimming for his fourth-straight ACC title in the 100 back, but he’ll be in lane 5 after Notre Dame’s Marcus Gentry hit a lifetime best to claim the top seed this morning. The race of the night, in terms of how many swimmers could be in contention at the touch, could be the men’s 100 breast. Defending champion Noah Nichols of UVA had the fastest time in prelims, but he’ll face ACC record holder Denis Petrashov of Louisville and Virginia Tech’s Carles Coll Marti, who had the fastest time in the conference heading into this season.

Finally, the 400 medley relays should be exciting. The Virginia women set the all-time record in this event here last year, and they could certainly be a position to do so again. The NC State men probably aren’t going to be able to match Florida’s NCAA and US Open record. However, if they choose to use Stokowski, they could go after the conference record of 3:01.10, which they set here last year. If they don’t use Stokowski, who represents Poland in international competition, keep an on the American Record of 3:01.51, set by Cal back in 2017.

TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 3

Women:

1. Virginia — 846.5
2. Louisville — 682
3. NC State — 573
4. Duke — 433.5
5. UNC — 401.5
6. Virgina Tech — 308.5
7. Notre Dame — 276
8. Florida State — 266
9. Pitt — 226
10. Miami — 221
11. Georgia Tech — 220

Men:

1. NC State — 812.5
2. Notre Dame — 559.5
3. Virginia Tech — 469.5
4. Louisville — 458
5. Florida State — 386
6. UNC — 380
7. Virginia — 344.5
8. Pitt — 315
9. Georgia Tech — 309
10. Duke — 164
11. Miami — 94

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:49.51, Ella Eastin (Stanford) – 2018 Pac-12 Championships
• ACC Record: 1:50.23, Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 2023 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 1:52.05, Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 2023
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:52.86
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:55.92

Top 8:

1. Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 1:49.16
2. Martina Peroni (Duke) – 1:54.00
3. Abby Harter (Virginia) – 1:54.81
4. Tess Howley (Virginia) – 1:54.88
5. Edith Jernstedt (FSU) – 1:55.48
6. Ellie Vannote (UNC) – 1:56.54
7. Maggie Schalow (Virgina) – 1:56.77
8. Catherine Purnell (Duke) – 1:58.71

Apparently, Alex Walsh wasn’t even planning on swimming this event at ACCs and decided to at relatively last-minute. She hadn’t competed in the event at all since last March’s NCAA championships, where she was the runner-up. Guess she wasn’t too rusty. Tonight, she swam the fastest 200 fly ever in college competition with a time of 1:49.16. She looked incredibly smooth, going out in 52.22, and when she hit the 150 mark at 1:20.61, it looked like she was set to go under 1:50. Sure enough, she did, and her time of 1:49.16 set the meet, conference, and NCAA records, and it’s the second fastest effort behind Regan Smith’s 1:48.33.

Duke’s Martina Peroni improved on her 5th place finish from last year with a 1:54.00 tonight, followed by Cavaliers Abby Harter (1:54.81) and Tess Howley (1:45.88).

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:37.35, Jack Conger (Texas) – 2017 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 1:37.92, Nick Albiero (Louisville) – 2022 ACC Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 1:37.92, Nick Albiero (Louisville) – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:40.16
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:42.57

Top 8:

1. Noah Bowers (NC State) – 1:39.65
2. Aiden Hayes (NC State) – 1:41.31
3. Seb Lunak (UNC) – 1:41.78
4. Tate Bacon (Notre Dame) – 1:42.25
5. Patrick Hussey (UNC) – 1:42.89
6. Carl Bloebaum (Virgina Tech) – 1:42.90
7. Sebastien Sergile (Virgina) – 1:43.66
8. Boyd Poelke (UNC) – 1:44.80

NC State’s Noah Bowers got below the 1:40 mark for the first time ever , and did it en route to winning his first ever individual ACC title. Aiden Hayes, Bowers’ teammate and the 2023 ACC and NCAA champ in this event, was leading at the 150. But on the last lap, Bowers split 26.25, the fastest in the field by over a second, and got his hands on the wall first in 1:39.65.

Hayes took 2nd in 1:41.31, followed by UNC’s Seb Lunak (1:41.78).

Louisville’s Gustavo Saldo, who made the A-final last year but only qualified for the C-final today, won that heat with a 1:42.86 that would’ve put him 5th in the A-final tonight.

Women’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 48.26, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2023 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 48.26, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2023 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 49.25, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2023
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 50.88
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 52.36

Top 8:

1. Katharine Berkoff (NC State) – 48.70
2. Kennedy Noble (NC State) – 50.92
3. Reilly Tiltmann (Virginia) – 51.82
4. Ali Pfaff (Duke) – 52.00
5. Greer Pattison (UNC) – 52.45
6. Caroline Bentz (Virginia Tech) – 52.63
7. Meghan Donald (NC State) – 52.72
8. Miriam Sheehan (NC State) – 52.87

NC State’s Katharine Berkoff became the first woman to win five-straight ACC titles in the same event, as she clocked a 48.70 to win tonight. That time also broke the ACC meet record of 49.25, which UVA’s Gretchen Walsh set last year. That’s also a new lifetime best for Berkoff, and appears to be the 2nd-fastest swim ever, behind Walsh’s 48.26.

Berkoff’s teammate Kennedy Noble took 2nd in 50.92, not far off of her lifetime best of 50.79, followed by UVA’s Reilly Tiltmann (51.82). Last year, Tiltmann took 2nd in 51.20, followed by Noble at 51.59.

UVA’s Carly Novelline won the B-final with a 51.72 that would’ve put her 3rd in the A-final.

 Men’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 43.35, Luca Urlando (Georgia) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 43.93, Kacper Stokowski (NC State) – 2023 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 44.04, Coleman Stewart (NC State) – 2020/ Kacper Stokowski (NC State) – 2023
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.71
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 45.70

Top 8:

1. Kacper Stokowski (NC State) – 44.36
2. Matt Brownstead (Virginia) – 45.26
3. Hudson Williams (NC State) 45.28
4. Stepan Goncharov (Pitt) – 45.44
5. Marcus Gentry (Notre Dame) – 45.57
6. Max Wilson (FSU) – 45.58
7. Dalton Lowe (Louisville) 45.68
8. Quintin McCarty (NC State) – 45.72

For the second event in a row, a NC State swimmer not only won, but continued a streak in doing so. Kacper Stokowski continues to look stronger as the week progresses, and tonight he knocked nearly a second off his finals time to win in 44.36.

Stokowski was tied for the #2 time in the nation this season with a 44.37 the NC State, and with tonight’s swim he moves into sole possession of 2nd place, behind only Destin Lasco (44.28). Stokowski owns a lifetime best of 43.83 from last year’s NCAA championships.

Virginia’s Matt Brownstead took 2nd in a lifetime best of 45.28. Brownstead has been the main bright spot in a rough week for the Cavaliers, and he should be in contention for podium finish in the 100 free tomorrow as well.

NC State freshman Hudson Williams also clocked a new lifetime best, going 45.28 en route a third place finish.

Notre Dame’s Tanner Filion had a big swim in the B-final with a 44.99. That appears to be a lifetime best, but more importantly, with Tommy Janton finishing 2nd behind him there at 45.17, the Fighting Irish continue to do what they need to do solidify their hold on 2nd place.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 55.73, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 56.72, Sophie Hansson (NC State) – 2022 ACC Championships
• ACC Championship Record:56.72, Sophie Hansson (NC State) – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 58.02
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 59.73

Top 8:

1. Jasmine Nocentini (Virginia) – 57.01
2. Abby Arens (NC State) – 58.74
3. Emma Weber (NC State) / Skyler Smith (UNC) / Kaelyn Gridley (Duke) – 58.81
4. (tie)
5. (tie)
6. Sabyne Brisson (Georgia Tech) – 59.84
7. Zoe Skirboll (Virginia) – 59.86
8. Madeline Huggins (FSU) – 1:00.39

It’s fun to watch races with eye popping fast times, and it’s fun to see close races, and we got a little of both here.

UVA’s Jasmine Nocentini flirted with the ACC record, ultimately coming up just 0.29s shy of that mark and 0.25s short of the UVA school record.

No one was really close to Nocentini, but the race for 2nd was incredibly tight. NC State’s Abby Arens, who chose to race this after winning the 200 fly the last two years, took 2nd in 58.74. Three women touched within a tenth of a second of her, and all three — Emma Weber, Skyler Smith, and Kaeyln Gridley, improbably tied with a 58.81.

Further back, Sabyne Brisson of Georgia Tech and UVA’s Zoe Skirboll raced for 6th, with Brisson just getting the touch 59.84 to 59.86.

Score update:

1. Virginia — 1098.5
2. NC State — 765
3. Louisville — 741
4. Duke — 556.5
5. UNC — 547.5
6. Virgina Tech — 365.5
7. Florida State — 332
8. Notre Dame — 319
9. Georgia Tech — 205
10. Pitt — 257
11. Miami (FL) — 255

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 49.69, Ian Finnerty (Indiana) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 50.78, Denis Petrashov (Louisville) – 2023 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 50.82, Noah Nichols (Virginia)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 51.10
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 51.90

Top 8:

1. Noah Nichols (Virginia) – 50.89
2. Carles Coll Marti (Virginia Tech) – 50.95
3. Peter Varjasi (FSU) – 51.07
4. Denis Petrashov (Louisville) – 51.10
5. Leandro Odorici (Georgia Tech) – 51.69
6. AJ Pouch (Virginia Tech) – 51.98
7. Tommaso Baravelli (FSU) – 52.28
8. Ethan Maloney (Virginia Tech) – 52.37

There was another close race here, as the top four finishers all touched within 0.21s of each other. Defending champion Noah Nichols got his hands on the wall first, with Virginia Tech’s Carles Coll Marti taking 2nd at 50.94.

Florida State’s Peter Varjasi has been on a great improvement curve this season, improving from 54.0 to 52.0 at midseason, and now he’s hit 51.07 to break the Seminoles’ school record and take 3rd. ACC Record holder Denis Petrashov of Louisville touched just behind him at 51.10.

Georgia Tech’s Leandro Odorici improved his lifetime best from 51.96 to 51.69 to take 5th, also getting under last year’s NCAA cut time.

Sam Hoover hit a new lifetime best of 52.22 to win the B-final. Hoover will presumably be swimming the the breast leg on on the Wolfpack’s medley relay shortly, and could be the key leg if NC State is going after records.

Score update:

1. NC State — 999.5
2. Notre Dame — 692.5
3. Louisville — 614
4. Virgina Tech — 610.5
5. Florida State — 490
6. UNC — 483
7. Virginia — 482.5
8. Pitt — 394
9. Georgia Tech — 352
10. Duke — 164
11. Miami — 94

Women’s Platform Diving – Finals

• ACC Record: 367.20, Brittany Viola, Miami (FL) – 2008 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 364.70, Katrina Young (Florida State) – 2014

Top 8:

1. Bayleigh Cranford (NC State) – 313.80
2. Else Prassertink (Louisville) – 313.20
3. Anna Bradescu (Georgia Tech) – 297.40
4. Aranza Vazquez (UNC) – 258.65
5. Isabel Gregersen (FSU) – 253.20
6. Kayleigh Clark (FSU) – 252.65
7. Aliyah Watson (Duke) – 248.55
8. Emily Rakestraw (Duke) – 225.25

NC State freshman Bayleigh Cranford upset Aranza Vazquez’s quest to sweep all three diving events for the second year in a row, as the Wolfpack diver won with a score of 313.80.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:21.80, Virginia – 2023 ACC Championships
• ACC Record: 3:21.80, Virginia – 2023 ACC Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 3:21.80, Virginia – 2023
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:31.38

Top 8:

1. Virginia – 3:22.49
2. NC State – 3:28.23
3. Louisville – 3:30.28
4. Duke – 3:30.40
5. UNC – 3:32.14
6. FSU – 3:32.28
7. Georgia Tech – 3:35.07
8. Pitt – 3:35.15

UVA may have fallen a bit short of the all-time mark in the relay, but a record still fell as Gretchen Walsh led off in 48.10, breaking her own US Open record in the event. Jasmine Nocentini split 57.82 on breast, a bit slower than her individual time, while Alex Walsh followed up her 200 fly win with a 49.13 split. Maxine Parker anchored in 47.44, as the Cavaliers touched the wall in 3:22.49, nearly six seconds ahead of the field. That moves them into the #1 spot in the nation this season, ahead of Texas (3:25.25).

NC State still ranks #6 in the nation this season after improving 0.04s on their seed time. Kennedy Noble led off in 51.23, followed by Abby Arens (57.86) and Miriam Sheehan (53.05) before Katharine Berkoff unleaded a 46.05 anchor leg, good for 3:28.23 overall.

Louisville was also under the NCAA ‘A’ cut with a season-best time of 3:30.28.

Duke initially finished 5th with a time of 3:30.40, but were DQ’d. The live results state that swimmer #2 drew the DQ, although those same live results show that the Blue Devil breaststroker, Kaelyn Gridley, had a safe 0.17s RT, while the #3 swimmer, Aleyna Ozkan, had a -0.02 RT.

Men’s 400 Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 2:58.32, Florida – 2023 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 3:01.10, NC State – 2023 ACC Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 3:01.10, NC State – 2023 ACC Championships
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:04.96

Top 8:

1. NC State – 3:02.20
2. Virginia Tech – 3:02.76
3. Notre Dame – 3:03.26
4. Virginia – 3:03.78
5. Louisville – 3:03.83
6. FSU – 3:05.91
7. UNC – 3:06.06
8. Pitt – 3:07.30

Wowzers. What a race.

Kacper Stokowski put NC State into the lead early with a 44.99 leadoff. Sam Hoover split 51.61 on breast, right in line with his individual 52.22 earlier tonight, but it wasn’t enough to avoid getting passed by Virginia Tech and UVA after they splits of 50.54 and 50.44 from Coll Marti and Nichols, respectively. Nichols was playing with fire, as he recorded a -0.03RT.

Luke Miller put the Wolfpack back into the lead with a 44.08 fly split, the fastest in the field, and Quintin McCarty anchored in 41.52 as NC State stopped the block in 41.52.

Virginia Tech took 2nd in 3:02.76 with strong splits all around. 100 fly champ Youssef Ramadan has been swimming more backstroke this season, and tonight he led off with a 45.34. He’s been as fast as 44.59, and had he matched that time tonight, the Hokies would’ve won the race. After Coll Marti, the Hokies got a 45.12 from Will Hayon and a 41.76 anchor from Luis Dominguez.

UVA looked to be in prime position to finish 3rd, but Notre Dame has a Chris Guiliano. Assuming the live result are correct, Guiliano went out in 18.63 to the feet off of a 0.31RT, and barreled home with an overall split of an eye popping 40.17 to touch in 3:02.26.

That appears to be the 2nd-fastest 100 free ever on a flying start, just behind Caeleb Dressel’s 40.15, and further cements Guiliano as one of the top sprinters in the country. We never know what will happen on the final night of a meet like this, but after winning the 50 free and the 200 free this week, Guiliano seems to be the favorite to win the 100 free.

Virginia ended up 4th in 3:03.78, and Louisville was also under the NCAA ‘A’ cut at 3:03.83. Denis Petrashov had the fastest breast split in the field with a 50.26.

TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 4

Women:

1. Virginia — 1178.5
2. NC State — 869
3. Louisville — 841
4. UNC — 627.5
5. Duke — 621.5
6. Florida State — 435
7. Virgina Tech — 429.5
8. Georgia Tech — 392
9. Notre Dame — 366
10. Pitt — 332
11. Miami (FL) — 299

Men:

1. NC State — 1063.5
2. Notre Dame — 746.5
3. Virginia Tech — 666.5
4. Louisville — 664
5. Florida State — 538
6. Virgina — 534.5
7. UNC — 529
8. Pitt — 438
9. Georgia Tech — 392
10. Duke — 198
11. Miami — 94