Virginia Sets 10 Pool Records, Max Carlsen Lowers ACC 1,000 Free Record in Split
Virginia’s women’s team renovated the NC State record board with 10 pool marks, and Max Carlsen lowered the ACC record in the men’s 1,000 free in an ACC split on Friday.
The Cavaliers’ women’s team claimed a 181-113 win. NC State’s men were similarly dominant at the Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center with a 172.5-89.5 decision.
Virginia bookended the meet with records in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Sara Curtis, Emma Weber, Claire Curzan and Anna Moesch went 1:32.67 in the former, a 1-2 for the Cavaliers with its B team. Curtis, Curzan, Madi Mintenko and Moesch went 3:07.62 to win the 400 free relay to end the night.
In between was record-board carnage. Aimee Canny went 1:42.81 for a pool mark in the 200 free (with Mintenko second). She also set a pool record in the 200 breaststroke in 2:06.54 to edge NC State’s Eneli Jefimova by just over a second. Canny also won the 200 individual medley in 1:54.77.
Curzan swept butterfly in a pair of records, going 1:51.35 to win the 200 and 49.13 to claim the 100. Curtis won the 50 free in a record 21.37, just .07 up on Moesch. Moesch set the pool mark in the 100 free in 46.40 with Mintenko second.
Katie Grimes extended the domination to distance with two pool records. She went 9:28.49 to win the 1,000 free, with Cavan Gormsen second. Grimes went 4:36.04, a season-best, in the 500 free to reset the facility record, again with Gormsen as the runner-up.
NC State had three wins in the pool. In the 100 back, Leah Shackley went 50.56, .08 seconds up on Curtis. Shackley also went 1:49.95 to win the 200 back in a 1-2 with teammate Erika Pelaez. Jefimova’s 58.10 in the 100 breast edged Weber by .57 seconds. Grace Hurley swept diving.
Carlsen was the standout on the men’s side. For the second straight week, he lowered the NC State and ACC record, held by teammate Lance Norris from 2024. Carlsen went a best time of 8:41.12, more than a second quicker than he was last week at UNC.
Carlsen also won the 500 free in 4:11.89, a Casey Aquatic Center record and the third-fastest time in program history.
NC State powered away via its stroke and sprint depth. Hudson Williams went 45.79 to win the 100 back in a 1-2-3 with Quintin McCarty and Aiden Hayes. Arsen Kozhakhmetrov followed with a 53.28 to win the 100 breast. Ian Stutts won the 200 breast in 1:57.18.
McCarty led a 1-2-3 in the 50 free, going 19.35 to Jerry Fox’s 19.38 and a 19.39 from Drew Salls. Kaii Winkler led a sweep in the 100 free in 42.21, .08 up on Fox and with Williams third in 42.86. NC State finished with a time of 2:46.90 in the 400 free relay via Fox, Winkler, McCarty and Williams. Williams, Kozhakhmetrov, Hayes and McCarty went 1:23.22 to win the 200 medley relay.
Virginia had its share of wins. Maximus Williamson’s 1:32.18 edged Winkler for the win in the 200 free, then he went 1:42.75 to edge Daniel Diehl in the 200 IM. Thomas Heilman did the fly double, going 1:41.00 to dominate the 200 and 45.22 to best Hayes in the 100 fly. David King was third in the 200 free, then won the 200 back in 1:40.09.
