Virginia's bid for a fifth-consecutive ACC Women's Swimming & Diving Championship got off to a strong start on Tuesday night as the Cavaliers took home two relay titles on the opening night of the 2024 ACC Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
The highlight of the night was the 800-freestyle relay, with Virginia's team of Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Aimee Canny, and Ella Nelson missing the NCAA record by just three-tenths of a second, but still setting ACC, meet, and pool records with their time of 6:46.28 to claim the title in the event. Gretchen Walsh swam the leadoff leg in 1:40.23, a time that set the UVA record for the 200 freestyle and was the third-fastest 200 free time ever recorded.
The night began with Virginia's team of Reilly Tiltmann, Jasmine Nocentini, Carly Novelline, and Maxine Parker claiming victory in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:33.84. UVA has won 21 of the last 22 relays at the ACC Championships and has won the last 17 ACC titles in the 800-yard freestyle relay dating back to 2008.
UVA also earned points in diving with Elizabeth Kaye placing 9th and Maddy Grosz placing 19th in the 3-meter.
Through the first three events of the meet, Virginia currently sits in third in the women's standings with 154 points, but trails first-place North Carolina by just five points. UNC's Aranza Vazquez Montano repeated as the 3-meter diving champion to give the Tar Heels the lead.
The Virginia men, meanwhile, got on the board with a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay and Oliver Mills placed 19th in the 1-meter diving competition.
Women’s Standings (through 3 events)
1. North Carolina, 159
2. Louisville, 155
3. Virginia, 154
4. NC State, 144
5. Duke, 142
6. Notre Dame, 139
7. Florida State, 128
8. Virginia Tech, 115
9. Miami, 96
10. Pittsburgh, 85
10. Georgia Tech, 85
Men’s Standings (through 3 events)
1. Notre Dame, 176
2. NC State, 159
3. Pittsburgh, 151
4. North Carolina, 138
5. Florida State, 132
6. Virginia Tech, 124.5
7. Louisville, 114
7. Georgia Tech, 114
9. Duke, 88
10. Miami, 54
11. Virginia, 53.5
Wednesday's competition includes the finals for the 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, and women's 1-meter. Prelims start at 9:30am and the finals begin at 5:30pm.
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