Cards Send 24 Swimmers to Finals after Day 2 Prelims at ACC Championships

Wednesday, February 21

Greensboro, NC

9:30 Prelims | 5:30 Finals

University of Louisville

Atlantic Coast Conference

Fernanda Celidonio celebrates after her prelim swim

Cards Send 24 Swimmers to Finals after Day 2 Prelims at ACC Championships

February 21, 2024 | Swimming & Diving

By: Nancy Worley

Greensboro, N.C. -- The Cardinals earned 24 second swims after the first full day of preliminaries at the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Wednesday morning at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

Finals will go off at 5:30 ET tonight at the GAC and will also include the 200 Free Relay and women's 1-meter diving.

In the prelims of the 500 free, Louisville put two Cards in the B-final, led by Summer Cardwell's 4:46.44. Joining her in the B-final will be Madison Luther, who put up a 4:49.31. Rye Ulett made the C-final with a time of 4:49.97 as did Paige Kuwata, who posted a time of 4:50.11. The top qualifier is Virginia's Cavan Gormsen, who put up a 4:41.11.

In the men's 500 freestyle, Louisville's Ilia Sibirtsev was the fastest in the field with a 4:15.30. Joining him in the A-final will be Murilo Sartori (4:17.11). Gustavo Saldo missed the A-final by .03 but will be the top seed in the B-final after his morning swim of 4:18.39. Tyler Watson and Denis Loktev will join him in the B-final after boarding a 4:19.05 and a 4:20.29 respectively.

The Cardinal advanced four swimmers to the finals tonight, including two in the A-final. Fernanda Celidonio will be seeded fifth tonight after posting a 1:56.64. Kim Herkle is seeded sixth tonight with her time of 1:57.01. Madie Hall (1:58.80) and Tristen Ulett (1:59.03) earned a second swim in the C-Final.

The Cardinal will send six to the 50 free finals in the women's event led by Christiana Regenauer's 21.56, which seeds her fourth. Gabi Albiero placed fifth in the prelims with a 21.61 to advance to the A. Joining Regenauer and Albiero in the A-final will be Julia Dennis, who went 21.68. The B-final will have two Cards with Ella Welch (22.16) and Lucy Mehraban (22.32). Karoline Barrett will add points from the C-final. Virginia's Gretchen Walsh had the fastest time in the morning with a 20.77, a meet, conference and American record.

The men will send three to the finals in the 50 free, led by Dalton Lowe's 19.34, who will be in the B-final. Charlie Crush (19.60) and Vlad Dubinin (19.56) will race in the C-final. The top qualifier, Christopher Guiliano, set an NCAA record with an 18.57.

Date:	Tuesday, Feb. 20 - Saturday, Feb. 24
Time: (includes streaming link)	• Tuesday: 10 a.m. diving prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals • Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals • Thursday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals • Friday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 5:30 p.m. finals • Saturday: 9:30 a.m. prelims, 2:45 p.m. mile heats, 6 p.m. finals
Location:	Greensboro Aquatic Center -- Greensboro, N.C.
Streaming:	ACC Network Extra - Links above
Additional info:	Live Results • Schedule of Events • ACC Championship Central