Comerford Wins Gold In Highlight of Day 3 Finals

Friday, February 22

Greensboro, N.C.

All Day

University of Louisville

ACC Women's Championships

The Coaching Staff cheers on the Cardinals at the ACC Swimming Championships

February 22, 2019 | Swimming & Diving

2019 Women's ACC Friday Finals Results

Cards make three podiums; Action concludes tomorrow

By: Nancy Worley

The University of Louisville made three podiums highlighted by Mallory Comerford's gold medal performance in the 200 freestyle in Friday night's finals at the 2019 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

With 766 points, the Cardinals trail only NC State (886) and Virginia 867. The rest of the field lines up with Notre Dame (624.5), Duke (570.5), Florida State (490), UNC (487.5), Virginia Tech (333), Pitt (237), Georgia Tech (209), Miami 184.5 and Boston College 124.

Mallory Comerford defended as 200 freestyle champion, winning gold in 1:41.60 and setting a meet record. She was the only swimmer to hit the wall in under 50 seconds at the halfway point, and left the field in her wake to win by more than three seconds. Also in that event for the Cardinals, Arina Openysheva was into the wall sixth in the 200 freestyle in the A final. Cardinal freshman Diana Dunn was eighth in the B-final with a time of 1:49.27.

"This is my favorite event and I wanted to get this for my team. I love to race and compete with my team and keep pushing to get better and elevate my swims," said Comerford.

Grace Oglesby won silver in the 100 butterfly with a 51.02 for an NCAA A-cut. In the B-final, Cardinal Alena Kraus went 53.57 in the 100 butterfly for sixth place just ahead of teammate Nastja Govejsek, who went 53.72 for seventh. Virginia's Morgan Hill notched her second win second win of the meet, just touching out Oglesby by one one-hundredths of a second for the gold medal.

In the A-Final of the 400 IM, Sophie Cattermole touched sixth with a time of 4:10.63. Maria Sumida got to the wall second in the B-final with a swim of 4:11.21. In the C-final, Cardinal Carley Lowe boarded a 4:19.95 . NC State's Kathleen Moore touched first in 4:05.24 just ahead of Makayla Sargent (4:06.19), followed by freshman Emma Muzzy (4:06.89) to make it a Wolfpack sweep.

In the 100 breast, Louisville's Kaylee Wheeler touched sixth in the 100 breaststroke A-final with a time of 59.88, which was an invited time from a year ago. Teammate Mariia Astashkina was into the wall 7th with a time of 1:00.12, for a B-cut. Morgan Friesen was eighth in the A-final, posting a 1:00.46. Avery Braunecker finished fourth in the C-final with a time of 1:01.60, shaving a bit off her prelim time. NC State's Hansson got the win with a time of 57.74.

Alina Kendzior won the B-final of the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.48. Elise Haan defended her gold from a year ago with the win, going 51.43.

Molly Fears finished eighth in the platform diving finals, posting a. score of 202.70. The event was won by NC States Madeline Kline's 271.60 points.

In the final event of the evening, the Cardinals 400 medley relay, Alina Kendzior (52.55) Kaylee Wheeler (59.29), Grace Oglesby (50.70) and Mallory Comerford (46.53) joined forces to put up a 3:29.02. NC State won the event in 3:27.81.

The final day of racing on Saturday will feature the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breaststroke, 200 fly, 1M Diving, Men's Platform diving, the 1650 freestyle.

Standings:
1. NC State 886
2. Virginia 867
3. Louisville 766
4. Notre Dame 624.5
5. Duke 570.5
6. Florida State 490
7. UNC 487.5
8. Virginia Tech 333
9. Pitt 237
10. Georgia Tech 209
11. Miami 184.5
12. Boston College 124