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Irish in Sixth Halfway Through ACC Championship

Day Two Prelims Results | Day Two Finals Results

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — No. 14 Notre Dame finished the second day of the ACC Championships in sixth place, again boasting multiple finalists in the women’s diving final and sending six swimmers to their respective finals. 

Kelly Straub and Annie Wiese earned spots in the 1m diving final, marking the second-consecutive day they both notched a finals slot, while Luciana Thomas, Madeline LaPorte and Sammie Eyolfson made it to the 500 Free final and Coleen Gillilan, Bayley Stewart and Ellie Jew earned slots in the 200 IM finals. 

“We had a very good beginning to the session tonight,” head swim coach Mike Litzinger said. “Both Luciana and Madeline had solid performances that boosted them into the championship final of the 500 Free, as well as an awesome performance by Sammie Eyolfson. 

“Our IM swimmers performed well, too,” Litzinger continued. “Having Coleen and Bayley in the mix, buoyed by a great swim by Ellie Jew, helped tremendously. Both Annie Wiese and Kelly Straub continued to impress on the boards. 

“We had a bit of bad luck with a relay DQ, but our best events are ahead of us, and we need to fight as a team. I believe we will take advantage of our opportunities.”

PRELIMS

To lead off prelims, juniors Thomas (4:45.47, sixth, B Cut) and LaPorte (4:46.26, eighth, B Cut) punched their tickets to the 500 Free A Final, as junior Eyolfson claimed a spot in the C final with a 4:49.87 (22nd). 

Also in prelims, freshman Allison Kopac posted a 4:51.55 (26th) and freshman Emma Gleason turned in a 5:01.07 (43rd). 

In the 200 IM, sophomore Gillilan led the Irish with a 1:58.11 (B-Cut), good for ninth and a spot in the B Final. Junior Stewart also claimed a spot in the B Final, placing 15th in prelims with a 2:00.22. Sophomore Jew was the last Irish swimmer to qualify for finals in the 200 IM, posting a 2:00.77 (19th). 

Freshman Sarah Bender also competed in the 200 IM prelims, posting a 2:03.30 (41st), and sophomore Elizabeth Fry followed in 42nd (2:03.67). Junior Sarah Nicholls rounded it out for the Irish with a 2:04.98 (50th). 

In the 50 Free, Notre Dame’s top finisher was senior Carly Quast, who placed T-29th (22.99). Senior Skylar Fore came in 35th (23.13), senior Cailey Grunhard followed in 36th (23.15) and freshman Sydney Whiting clocked a 23.70 (53rd). 

In the diving well, the men took the 3-meter, as junior Austin Flaute placed 22nd (291.75), junior David Petrison took 25th (285.40) and sophomore Dave DeBacker placed 31st (242.65). 

In the women’s 1-meter, senior Straub (312.85) and junior Wiese (285.35) punched their tickets to finals for the second-consecutive day. Senior Kate McCahan placed 31st (215.75). 

FINALS

Straub and Wiese took the 1-meter in finals Thursday afternoon, as Straub placed fourth with a 294.10 and Wiese followed in fifth with a 289.35, both Zone B scores. 

In the 500 Free finals, Thomas placed seventh (4:46.22 – B Cut), and LaPorte placed eighth (4:46.27 – B Cut). In the C Final, Eyolfson shaved almost two seconds off her prelims time, clocking a 4:47.88 (21st). 

Next, in the 200 IM final, Gillilan placed 11th (1:57.21 – B Cut), and Stewart placed 16th (2:00.49), as part of the B Final. In the C Final, Jew clocked a 2:00.30, making her the 10th-fastest performer in program history in that event. 

In the last event of the night, the team of Rachel Wittmer, Gillilan, Grunhard and Quast swam the 200 Free Relay in 1:31.00, but were tagged with an early take-off and disqualified. 

UP NEXT

The Irish return to the pool in Greensboro Friday, beginning with women’s swimming prelims at 11 a.m. ET. Diving prelims for the women’s platform will begin at Noon ET, and finals for that event will follow at 1:30 p.m. ET.  Women’s swimming finals on Friday begin at 7 p.m. ET. 

All sessions will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Live timing and scores can be accessed at http://sidearmstats.com/acc/swimming/

STANDINGS

  1. Virginia – 510 points
  2. NC State – 486
  3. Virginia Tech – 376
  4. Louisville – 311.5
  5. Duke – 290
  6. Notre Dame – 276
  7. North Carolina – 244.5
  8. Miami – 238
  9. Florida State – 214
  10. Georgia Tech – 210
  11. Pitt – 159
  12. Boston College – 115