Eagles Break Records at ACC Championships

Wednesday, February 14

Greensboro, N.C.

All Day

Boston College

Women's ACC Championship

Eagles Break Records at ACC Championships

February 19, 2018 | Swimming

Results

The women's swim & dive team broke six program records

By: Athletic Communications

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Boston College women's swim & dive team competed phenomenally at the women's Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, beginning Feb. 14 and ending Feb. 17. The squad broke six program records, swam 27 career-best performances and earned 16 new slots on the top-ten all-time performers list as 18 swimmers, three female divers and a male diver competed for the Eagles.

"I am so proud of all that our women's program has accomplished this year," said head coach Mike Stephens. "Our team worked incredibly hard and improved all season long culminating with a great performance at the ACC Championships. I am very happy with the huge leap our team took this season and am confident that this is just the start of something special. We are committed to getting better each and every day."

The University of Virginia came out on top with the win, while Louisville followed and North Carolina State rounded out the top three.

Up next, the men's swim & dive team will get their go at the ACC Championships, beginning Feb. 21.

BROKEN RECORDS

The women's 200 yard medley relay team of freshman Maura Grimes, sophomore Taylor Covington, sophomore Victoria Lin and freshman Ali Kea shattered the previous school record with a new time of 1:42.14. Each of their individual relay splits also ranked as the fastest in program history. The same relay team also combined to break the school record in the 400 yard medley with a time of 3:46.43, shaving almost three seconds off the previous mark.

The women's 800-yard freestyle relay team of junior Erika Freeman, freshman Dominique Gray, Kea and sophomore Kristina Fecarotta combined to set a new school record with a time 7:29.87, surpassing the old mark by five full seconds.

Freshman Maura Grimes led off the 200 yard medley relay with a school record time of 25.69 in the 50-yard backstroke, breaking a nine year old record held by Katie Fritsch (2006-10). Grimes' leadoff time of 55.91 in the backstroke leg of the 400 medley relay now ranks second all-time, nearly overtaking Katie Fritsch's record mark of 55.78 from 2009.

Freshman Ali Kea had an exceptional performance at her first-ever ACC Championship. Individually, Kea set a school record in the 50-yard freestyle (23.25) and posted the second fastest time in program history in the 100-yard freestyle (51.28). The Westford, Mass. native was a member of all five relays, three of which were record-breaking performances.

OTHER BC HIGHLIGHTS

Covington tied a school record held by Maureen Barron (2013-16) in the 50-yard breaststroke and became the second-fastest performer in program history in the 100-yard breaststroke. Her time of 1:04.76 from this meet falls just shy of the record mark of 1:04.67 held by Melissa Merwin (2011-15).

Sophomore Taylor Covington tied a school record held by Maureen Barron (2012-16) in the 50-yard breaststroke, and became the second-fastest performer in program history in the 100-yard breaststroke. Her time of 1:04.76 from this meet falls just shy of the record mark of 1:04.67 held by Melissa Merwin (2011-15).

Sophomore Victoria Lin was an essential member of two record-breaking medley relays, posting program best butterfly relay splits in both (24.51 & 54.75). Individually, Victoria dominated the butterfly events, finishing with times of 55.59 and 2:04.55 in the 100 and 200 yard events. Her time in the 100 ranks second all-time only behind her own school record time of 55.57.

Senior Emily Mann concluded her career with a lifetime-best performance in two events. Her times of 4:32.89 and 2:06.36 in the 400 IM and 200 butterfly make her the ninth and 10th fastest performer in those events in program history.

During many of their first event appearances at ACC Championships, Boston College divers were able to show resolve in the face of strong competition. Freshman Ellie Uhl put on a strong showing at her first ever ACC appearance, placing 36th during the women's 3M preliminaries with a score of 194.4. Her best dive score (42.00) came from her Reverse Dive straight, yielding 7's from judges.