Cardinals Move Into Second Place at ACC Championships

Thursday, February 21

Greensboro, N.C.

All Day

University of Louisville

ACC Women's Championships

Two Cards on the Starting blocks at the GAC

February 21, 2019 | Swimming & Diving

2019 Women's ACC Thursday Finals Results

Mallory Comerford wins gold

By: Nancy Worley

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- After the first full day of racing, the University of Louisville Cardinals moved up to second place gaining three podiums, including a gold medal by Mallory Comerford, Thursday night at the 2019 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

The Cardinals, who have amassed 409 points trail only NC State's 454 points ahead of Virginia (379), Notre Dame (320.5), Duke (300.5), UNC (277.5), Florida State (265), Virginia Tech (181), Georgia Tech (147), Miami (146.5), Pitt (126) and Boston College (92).

Mallory Comerford set a school record and put up the fastest time in the country to date to win the ACC Championship in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:34.63. She won by more than three seconds to pick up a NCAA 'A' cut. Teammate Sophie Cattermole won the B-Final of the 500 with a time of 4:41.76. Freshman Alena Kraus led from wire to wire to win the C-final in 4:43.92. Arina Openysheva finished fourth in the C-Final with a time of 4:47.44.

"The moment is bittersweet because my career just has gone by so fast. I am just trying to enjoy the moment. It has been an incredible journey. It may be my last 500 freestyle in my career so that was motivating me. It was all for my teammates," said Comerford.

In the 200 IM, the bronze medal went to Louisville's Grace Oglesby, who finished in 1:56.33, improving on her seventh place finish a year ago. Also in the A-final, Louisville senior Alina Kendzior touched fifth with a time of 1:57.56 for her lifetime best. The event was won by NC State's Julia Poole, who put up a 1:55.13. She was one of four Wolfpack swimmers in the event. In the B-final of the 200 IM, Louisville freshman Maria Sumida touched third with a time of 1:59.01.

In the A-Final of the 50 Freestyle, Lainey Visscher goes 22:23 for sixth place. In the A-Final of the 50 Freestyle, Avery Braunecker boarded a 22.35 for 8th place! In the B-Final of the 50 freestyle, Casey Fanz went 22.33 for third place! UVA's Morgan Hill dropped a quarter second off her prelims to put up the winning time of 21.68, In the C-final of the 50-freestyle, Louisville's Nastja Govejsek put up a 22.82 for 6th place.

In the men's 3M Diving Final, Daniel Pinto placed sixth with 322.10 and Daniel Fecteau was 8th with a score of 294.75. The men's diving points will be added to the men's championship totals when their meet begins next week.

In the 200 freestyle relay, Lainey Visscher (22.39), Mallory Comerford (21.17), Avery Braunecker (22.20), and Casey Fanz (21.71) combined to put up the silver medal time of 1:27.47. The event was won by NC State which set a new meet and ACC record en route to a 1:26.16 finish.

Tomorrow's events will feature the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, and women's platform diving.