Busy First Day At Dowd Invitational

Thursday, December 3

Chapel Hill

All Day

North Carolina

Janis Hape Dowd Invitational

December 3, 2020 | Swimming & Diving

Day One Results Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina hosted Duke, NC State and Virginia Tech at Koury Natatorium for the first day of the Janis Hape Dowd Invitational on Thursday.

Athletes competed in the 200-yard freestyle relay, 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relay.

"Tonight was a really productive night for our program. We're just trying to see where we're at in the season. With so few opportunities to race, it's good for us to get them up on the blocks against really good competition," said North Carolina head coach Mark Gangloff.

The women started the meet well with Grace Countie, Heidi Lowe, Sophie Lindner and Brieanna Romney placing second in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Shortly after, Lindner and Ellie VanNote finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 100-yard butterfly.

In the women's 50-yard freestyle, Countie and Lowe secured another fourth and fifth place finish for the Tar Heels. The women ended the night on a high note, with the team of Countie, Lilly Higgs, Lindner and Lowe finishing second in the 400-yard medley relay.

For the men, Jack Messenger, Tyler Hill, Tomas Sungaila and Eli Coan also placed second in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Later in the meet, Dimitrios Dimitriou and Patrick Hussey secured third and fifth in the 500-yard freestyle. Hill and Messenger tag-teamed the 50-yard freestyle, finishing second and fourth, respectively. In the last event of the night, Alex Mays, Jacob Rauch, Boyd Poelke and Sungaila placed third in the 400-yard medley relay.

All four teams return to Koury Natatorium on Friday for the second day of the meet. Athletes will compete in prelims beginning at 10 a.m. and the finals at 6 p.m.