University of North Carolina Athletics
Merrilees Breaks Tar Heel Record in 200 Freestyle
December 3, 2016 | Swimming & Diving
ATLANTA, GA. - Led by senior Jorden Merrilees' school record setting performance in the 200-yard freestyle. the University of North Carolina men's and women's swimming teams continued to excel Friday at the 2016 AT&T U.S. Swimming Winter National Championships at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center.
Merrilees, a native of North Melbourne, Australia, broke his own career best in the 200-yard freestyle by more than one second, and in the process established a new University record in the event. He finished second in the event in 1:34.31, more than a full second underneath his previous best time of 1:35.55. It also broke Ben Colley's school record of 1:34.89 set in 2015.
The Carolina women also won the national championship in the 200-yard freestyle relay, clocking a 1:29.44. The relay included Brooke Bauer (22.96), Sarah Koucheki (22.44), Sarah Hitchens (22.27) and Caroline Baldwin (21.77).
Carolina started the night with a trio of impressive swims in the 400-yard individual medley. Senior Caty Hulsey won the "B" final, taking ninth place overall in 4:10.61. That time moved her into fifth place all-time amongst Carolina performers in the event and it was more than two seconds below her previous career best time of 4:13.00.
On the men's side, Tar Heel swimmers finished 1-2 in the "B" final with senior Michael Meyer taking ninth in 3:45.95 and junior Henry Campbell taking 10th in 3:48.22. The time for Meyer now places him as the fourth fastest Tar Heel ever in the event.
Senior Sarah Koucheki had an excellent swim for Carolina in the 100-yard butterfly. She took third in the event and matched her career best time of 52.77 seconds.
Junior Craig Emslie had two excellent swims in the men's 100-yard breaststroke as the Cape Town, South Africa native took fifth in the preliminaries and sixth in the final. His time of 53.40 improved his already existing time as the second fastest Tar Heel in history, just off Kurt Wohlrab's school record time of 53.24.
A pair of Tar Heels finished among the Top 6 swimmers in the women's 100-yard backstroke. Caroline Baldwin, junior captain, took second place with a time of 52.70 seconds while senior Sarah Hitchens was sixth with a clocking of 53.14 seconds.
