University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Thursday Finals
Campbell Turns in Oustanding 500 Free at NCAAs
March 24, 2017 | Swimming & Diving
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - North Carolina junior Henry Campbell of Manassas, Va., turned in a tremendous performance in the 500-yard freestyle as the second day of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming & Diving Championship concluded at the IUPUI Natatorium.
Campbell placed 11th in the event after taking third place in the consolation final of the event. Campbell qualified 15th in the event with a time of 4:14.05 and although he was slightly slower at night, going 4:14.12, he moved up four spots from preliminaries to place 11th in the event.
This marks the second time Campbell has earned honorable mention All-America honors in the 500-yard freestyle in his career. He was 13th in the event in 2015 as a freshman. After Thursday, he now has the four fastest 500-yard freestyle swims in Tar Heel history.
"Henry had a great day today. He raced extremely well in prelims to secure a spot in the finals," said UNC head coach Rich DeSelm. "Tonight Henry swam a more controlled front half of his 500 free and passed several swimmers on the second half to have his highest finish at NCAAs. Henry has worked quite hard and very consistently this season and his dedication is paying off. His ACC meet was stellar and he represented his team and school extremely well tonight at this week's NCAAs."
In the preliminaries, senior Jorden Merrilees placed 34th in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:19.59, senior Michael Meyer took 21st in the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 1:44.42 and junior Craig Emslie was 50th in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 20.33. Meyer, the school record holder in the 200 IM, swam the fourth fastest time in the event in school history on Thursday.
A pair of Tar Heel divers were in competition on Thursday as senior Jack Nyuist placed 21st in one-meter diving with a score of 311.35 and redshirt sophomore Sean Burston placed 23rd in the same event with 306.20 points.
Prelims Friday begin at 10 a.m. UNC's entries tomorrow included Campbell and Meyer in the 400 IM, Merrilees in the 200 free, Emslie in the 100 breaststroke and Nyquist in 3-meter diving.
Players Mentioned
