Vazquez Wins Bronze At NCAA Championships

March 17, 2022 | Swimming & Diving

ATLANTA – North Carolina sophomore diver Aranza Vazquez broke her own school record and captured the bronze medal in the 1-meter springboard competition at the 2022 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships at the McAuley Aquatic Center on Thursday.

She posted a score of 354.75, finishing less than two points shy of second place and 11 points out of first place. Miami's [Fla.] Mia Vallee took home the gold medal with a score of 365.76 while Minnesota's Sarah Bacon finished as the runner-up with a final tally of 356.60.

Vazquez finished second in the event at the 2021 national championship meet a year ago.

Senior Grace Countie posted a school record time of 21.44 in the final of the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in sixth place.

Countie also swam the leadoff leg for the Tar Heels in the 200-yard freestyle relay followed by Olivia Nel and Sophie Lindner with Heidi Lowe swimming the anchor leg. The foursome finished 10^th in the 24-team event.

A day earlier, Countie and Lindner teamed with Lilly Higgs and Greer Pattison to set the UNC record in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:35.29.

The Tar Heels are tied for 12^th through seven events at the national championship meet with 53 points. Virginia leads the field with 210 points followed by Texas in second place with 128 points and NC State in third with 123 points.

Preliminary competitions resume Friday morning with Countie, Lindner and Pattison competing in the 100-yard backstroke, Ellie VanNote participating in the 100-yard butterfly and Vazquez on the 3-meter spring. The championship finals are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.