Virginia Hanson

Position:
Free/IM
Height:
5-7
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Birmingham, Ala.
High School:
Altamont School

Career Best Times: 24.09 in the 50-yard freestyle; 51.56 in 100-yard freestyle; 1:48.97 in 200-yard freestyle; 2:03.91 in the 200-yard individual medley.

General: Named one of the 2004-2005 Tar Heel captains...a three-year returning letter winner who has been a top-flight staple in Carolina's sprint freestyle corps...a versatile swimmer who can swim both the freestyle events and the individual medley...member of the SAAC...swam for the Birmingham Swim League where she was the team captain her senior year in high school...2000 Junior National champion in 100-meter freestyle...senior national qualifier in 200-meter freestyle.

2003-04: Swam another excellent ACC Championship Meet...was part of the ACC record setting 800-yard freestyle relay, leading the team off with a 1:48.97 split...that relay won the ACC title and she earned All-ACC honors in the process...she was part of a 1-2-3 sweep of the 200-yard freestyle, taking third in 1:49.22 behind teammates and 2004 graduates Jessi Perruquet and Kelly Weeks...placed sixth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:04.22...took 13th in the 100-yard freestyle at 52.05...swam the third leg of the second place 400-yard freestyle relay team...was the second leg of the fourth place 200-yard freestyle relay team with at 23.55 split.

2002-03: Placed sixth in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2003 ACC Championships with a time of 1:50.99...she also placed 17th in the 100-yard freestyle at 52.98 and she finished 23rd in the 50-yard freestyle at 24.31...she swam the third leg on the 200 free relay team which placed third and the second leg on the 800 free relay team which placed second.

2001-02: Swam in the 2002 ACC meet as an exhibition swimmer.

Prep: Graduated from The Altamont School on June 8, 2001...swam there for four years and played varsity tennis for two years...six-time Alabama high school state champion in the 100 free and 200 IM...anchored three Alabama state championship 200-yard freestyle relay teams...MVP of high school team all four years...TV Fox 6 Athlete of the Week selection...two-time Scholastic All-America selection...graduated with honors...member of Key Club and French Club.

Personal: Given name is Virginia Fletcher Hanson...nicknamed "V"...born April 10, 1983 in Birmingham, Ala....daughter of Victor and Mary Hanson...has two brothers...hobbies include movies, hanging out with friends and doing anything outdoors...loves The Sound of Music and the Indiana Jones movies...claims she can quote virtually anything from Star Wars movies...athlete she most admires is Michael Phelps...biggest sports thrill was leading off the 2004 ACC champion and record-breaking 800-yard freestyle relay...exercise and sports science major...mother played field hockey and basketball for Gordon College...cousin, Douglas Smith, runs cross country and track for the Tar Heels...favorite foods include pasta, Life cereal and Cool Whip.