Claire Curzan, Sara Curtis Lead Virginia Women to Dominant ACC Victory, Cavalier Men Edge North Carolina
The Virginia Cavaliers welcomed Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina to Charlottesville Friday, and several of Virginia’s returning stars went off with nationally-contending early-season marks. The Cavalier women remain in position to win a sixth consecutive NCAA title, and they easily won over UNC by a score of 203-90. The men’s meet, however, was much closer before Virginia earned a one-point victory over the Tar Heels, 145 to 144.
The top performance of the day came from Virginia’s Claire Curzan, who is fresh off winning bronze at the World Championships in the 200-meter backstroke. Curzan is a two-time NCAA champion in the short course yards event, having gone 1:46.82 for the fastest time in history last March. Curzan was just over a second off that time Friday, coming in at 1:47.89.
Earlier in the day, Sara Curtis posted a stellar effort in a 50 freestyle time trial. The freshman from Italy clocked 21.18, making her the 12th-fastest performer ever in the event. Curtis also split 20.93 anchoring the Cavaliers’ 200 medley relay, combining with Bryn Greenwaldt, Zoe Skirboll and Curzan to earn the win in 1:33.62. Curtis is poised to take on a big role right away for Virginia as she has already been a World Championships finalist in the 50-meter race.
The Cavaliers graduated star sisters Gretchen and Alex Walsh as well as sprint standout Maxine Parker after last season, but Curzan’s return plus Curtis’ addition creates a still-dynamite sprint group. Curzan, Anna Moesch, Curtis and Greenwaldt put up a time of 1:25.77 in the 200 free relay, a time that only three teams surpassed all of last season. Curzan led off in 21.48, followed by Moesch swimming the fastest overall split of 21.25. Curtis went 21.47 and Greenwaldt 21.57.
Aimee Canny posted three winning performances in the meet. She opened with the top mark by almost eight seconds in the 1000 free, clocking 9:35.38. Canny then swam a time of 1:41.85 to win the 200 free, a lifetime best by 0.15 for the fourth-year swimmer from South Africa. The time would have tied for fourth in the event at last year’s NCAA Championships. Canny also swam a time of 2:07.45 in the 200 breast, just off her best of 2:06.70.
Virginia’s Carly Novelline topped the 100 butterfly in 51.82, and Emma Weber went 57.96 in the 100 breaststroke, marking the first time the Paris Olympian has ever been under 58 seconds. Weber had another best time in the 200 breast, where she clocked 2:07.87 for second place. Tess Howley, best known for her abilities in the 200 fly, won the 100 back in 52.00.
Freshman Madi Mintenko got under 4:40 in the 500 free with a mark of 4:39.74 while Leah Hayes put up a time of 1:55.10 to win the 200 IM. Next up, Lana Pudar came in first in the 200 fly in 1:56.54, taking down teammate Bailey Hartman by one hundredth.
The Virginia women finished out the meet with a stellar effort in the 400 free relay. Moesch went 46.53 on the leadoff leg, her best time by two tenths and quicker than all but two swimmers at last season’s NCAA Championships. Curtis, Mintenko and Canny all went 47s as Virginia finished in 3:11.09.
The only wins for the UNC women came in diving, with Lanie Gutch topping 1-meter (330.08) and 3-meter (337.65).
The men’s competition saw high-profile freshmen Thomas Heilman and Maximus Williamson plus returner David King star in Virginia’s tight victory. Heilman blasted a mark of 44.59 to dominate the 100 fly, and he later beat the field in the 200 fly by more than one-and-a-half seconds with a time of 1:41.79. Williamson won the 200 free (1:32.32) and 500 free (4:19.69). King took first in the 100 back in 46.30, and he got under 1:40 in the 200 back with a mark of 1:39.86.
The team of Spencer Nicholas, Jay Gerloff, Heilman and Jack Aikins combined for a time of 1:24.46 in the 200 medley relay. Aikins, Williamson, Josh Howat and Noah Powers topped the 200 free relay in 1:17.42. Virginia completed the relay sweep and the meet victory in the 400 free relay as Williamson, Heilman, Spencer Nicholas and Howat finished three seconds clear of the Tar Heels in the 400 free relay, clocking 2:50.96.
North Carolina’s Josh Parent was the winner of the 1000 free in 9:03.19, and Xavier Ruiz went 51.92 for the top spot in the 100 breast, edging teammate Ben Delmar (52.23). Delmar got on top in the 200 breast with a time of 1:52.61, with Ruiz not far away (1:53.16). Louis Dramm was the first-place finisher in the 200 IM (1:43.24).
The Tar Heel men posted diving wins with Christopher Booler (1-meter, 319.20) and Ciro Meijia (3-meter, 319.15).
