The Virginia women have all-but-sealed the ACC Championship, even with two days to go. They’ve taken out over a 100-point lead early, and don’t appear to be slowing down.
Women’s 200 Free Relay
The Virginia women won their 3rd-straight relay to kick off the meat of the meet at the 2012 ACC Women’s Championships.
This time, the quartet of Lauren Perdue, Meredith Cavalier, Kelly Flynn, and Emily Lloyd touched in 1:39.95 for the victory. That included a 22.30 flat-start leadoff from Lauren Perdue, whose coach revealed in post-session comments last night that she’s been swimming through a lot of pain for the last 8 months.
Much like we saw in the 200 medley yesterday, however, this leaves the Cavaliers teetering on the edge of qualifying for NCAA’s.
Maryland took 2nd in 1:30.02, with freshman Melanie Busch unable to hold off Lloyd on the anchor.
North Carolina State continued to tear up their school record books with a 3rd-place finish in 1:30.61. That knocks two seconds off of the old school record, and makes them three-for-three in school records so far in finals at this meet. That included the best split of the entire field from freshman Hannah Freyman in 22.14.
Women’s 500 Free
North Carolina sophomore Stephanie Peacock, for the 2nd year in a row, was dominant in this 500 free. Coming into the meet, it looked as though this might be a good battle between her and Virginia’s Rachel Naurath, but Peacock dominated every phase of the race. The only thing that really lacked from this swim was a big finishing kick, though she was 5 seconds clear of the field by the time she got to the closing 50.
That time was an ACC Championship Record for Peacock.
As for Naurath, she was shy of her season-best in 4:41.03. Her freshman teammate Alison Haulsee in 4:42.37.
Recognition goes to North Carolina’s Dani Silverling in 5th in 4:43.59. Coming into this meet, her lifetime best was from November in only 4:52. North Carolina coach Rich Deselm has done an outstanding job this season by taking Silverling’s fantastic 200 free coming to Chappel Hill and pushing it into gigantic improvements in the 500. She should be a medal contender in that 200 on Friday.
Women’s 200 IM
The Virginia women are leaning heavily on their freshman class this year, and that was nowhere more obvious that it was in this 200 IM, where three of the top four finishers were Virginia freshmen. The one to come out on top, however was a bit of a surprise – US Junior National Teamer Sarah White in 1:57.68. Teammate Ellen Williamson, who was the favorite coming into the race, took 2nd in 1:57.79.
White took the lead away on the backstroke leg, which was a surprise given that Williamson is a probable medalist in that race too. White is a good backstroker in her own right, but she dominate Williamson in the 2nd 50 to a surprising degree.
North Carolina’s Cari Blalock was 3rd in 1:57.87, and another Cavalier freshman Megan Fox was 4th in 1:58.70.
Women’s 50 Free
Miami senior Kelsi Hall is having a great meet, and established herself as the conference’s best sprinter by blocking Virginia’s Lauren Perdue from winning a 2nd-straight ACC title in the 50 free.
Hall touched first in 22.o3, which buzzed the meet record; and Perdue in 22.17. The two were way out in front of the competition and so had some good clean water to swim through.
Maryland’s Megan Lafferty didn’t have a great swim to take 3rd in 22.50. That’s a good placing, but not a great time. Clemson’s Meg Anderson was 4th in 22.76 – showing how drastic the dropoff is in the ACC.
Hannah Freyman didn’t get the chance to follow-up her great relay swim, as she false-started the race.
Women’s 1-Meter
Virginia Tech freshman Kalyea Arnett won the women’s 1-meter in 348.90. She’s got the 3-meter coming up next, which is her best event – she was the 2010 Junior World silver medalist.
Florida State saw the early dividends from transfer Ariel Rittenhosue, who was a 2008 U.S. Olympian. She took 2nd in 325.40. Miami still did well with three A-finalists, despite their best diver redshirting this year. That includes Thea Vock in 3rd place.
Standings
1. Virginia 311
2. North Carolina 197
3. Florida State 166
4. Miami 130
4. Virginia Tech 130
6. Maryland 118
7. Georgia Tech 105.5
8. North Carolina State 96.5
9. Duke 86
10. Clemson 73
11. Boston College 36
I see what you did there, meat of the meet..