University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
ACC Women's Championships Finals
Moriarty Wins Her Third ACC Individual Championship
February 20, 2010 | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 20, 2010
Complete Results |
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Fueled by sophomore Laura Moriarty's third individual title, the UNC women finished the 2010 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships in second place Saturday night with 642.5 points as competition ended at Koury Natatorium. The Tar Heels finished only behind the University of Virginia which scored 877.5 points. Florida State University came in third with a score of 545.
"We had some excellent swims this weekend," said head coach Rich DeSelm, now in his third year at Chapel Hill. "It was the last time for our full team to be together and to represent UNC. We had outstanding chemistry with swimmers who stood out as leaders both in and out of the water."
Junior Katura Harvey started off the final session of the meet in the championship heat of the 1650-yard freestyle. She finished in seventh place with a time of 16:19.02. Sophomore Katelyn Martin and junior Ashley Miller competed in an earlier timed final of the 1650. Martin touched in a time of 16:25.43 in 10th place and Miller followed close behind in 11th place with a time of 16:26.59.
Freshman Carly Smith finished in first place in the prelims of the 200-yard backstroke with a career best time of 1:54.31. Freshman Rebecca Brooks was seeded fifth after a career best time in the morning of 1:56.56, a NCAA "B" qualifying time. In the evening, Smith was out in a 54.39 for her first 100. Smith eventually finished in second place with a time of 1:53.14, a NCAA automatic qualifying time. Smith also broke teammate Ashley Howard's previous UNC school record and was the second swimmer to break the 200-yard backstroke pool record during the course of the day. Brooks touched in seventh place.
"I have never been to a meet with so much energy and excitement," said freshman Carly Smith. "It was a very cool experience. I couldn't have asked for better times, but there still is that rivalry for first place and it will really drive me next year."
Senior Ashley Howard and sophomore Candace Cooper were seeded first and third in the consolation heat of the 200-yard backstroke. Howard finished the race in a time of 1:56.14 in ninth place overall while dropping almost two seconds from her morning swim. Cooper finished in 15th place. Howard's finals' swim and Cooper's prelim swim are both NCAA "B" qualifying times.
Junior Rebecca Kane and senior Megan Steeves swam in the championship heat of the 100-yard freestyle. Kane was seeded second after her swim in prelims with a time of 49.22. Steeves was seeded fourth with a time of 49.55. Both Kane and Steeves achieved NCAA "B" qualifying times. Kane finished the race in seventh place and Steeves touched the wall in eighth place. Senior Eliza Butts represented the Tar Heels in the consolation heat of the 100 free where she was seeded second in the heat going into finals. Butts finished in 14th place overall in a time of 50.32. Freshman Stephanie Eisenring and sophomore Sarah Tanner swam in the bonus exhibition heat of the 100-yard freestyle. Eisenring finished in a time of 50.59 and Tanner swam a time of 50.81.
UNC had three women in the championship heat of the 200-yard breaststroke. Sophomore Laura Moriarty was seeded first for the third time this meet with a time of 2:10.89. Sophomore Layne Brodie was seeded third with a time of 2:12.58 and senior Alison Clemens was in fourth with a career best time of 2:12.67. In the championship heat, Moriarty tied for first place with in a time of 2:09.94, a NCAA automatic qualifying time. Moriarty broke teammate Layne Brodie's previous school record set last year at 2:10.04. Moriarty broke the ACC meet and conference records, also set last year by Brodie. In third place was Brodie in a time of 2:11.59 and Clemens was in fourth place in a time of 2:12.28, both NCAA "B" qualifying times.
Moriarty finished the meet with three individual titles - the 400 IM, 100 breast and 200 breast.
"She is a great competitor and if it weren't for her I don't know if I would have gone that fast," said Moriarty about her tie with Virginia's Christine Olsen for first place. "I was just thinking in my head that it was my last event, Heels' House and I just gave it my all."
Sophomore Enuf Swanson competed in the championship final of the 200-yard butterfly. Seeded sixth going into finals with a time of 1:59.59, Swanson finished in sixth place with a time of 2:00.36. Freshman Katie Nolan raced in the consolation heat of this event, finishing in a time of 2:00.71 in 10th place.
Sophomore Jenna Moore finished in eighth place for the Tar Heel divers on the 10-meter platform with 185.25 points.
The 400-yard freestyle relay was the last event of the championship meet. The Tar Heels were seeded with a time of 3:25.63 and finished in a time of 3:20.88 in fifth place. Senior Megan Steeves led off the relay, followed by Rebecca Kane, Eliza Butts and anchored by Katie Nolan.
Players Mentioned
