Eagles Swim Energized, Break Records at ACC Championship

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Men's ACC Championship

Eagles Swim Energized, Break Records at ACC Championship

February 27, 2018 | Swimming

2018 men's acc full meet results 3 column

Men's swim & dive breaks eight program records over the week

By: Athletic Communications

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Boston College men's swim & dive broke eight records, swam 39 career-best performances, earned 19 new slots on the top-10 all-time performers list and posted three times ranking as NCAA "B" time standards this past week at the men's ACC Championships.

"It was rewarding and inspiring to see the hard work this season pay off for so many of our student-athletes," said head coach Mike Stephens. "We began the season with a common goal, and left the meet feeling as though we achieved what we set out to do. We are excited and inspired to build on this momentum as we prepare for the 2018-2019 season."

Broken Records
The quartet of junior Taylor Cortens, junior Billy Miller, freshman Colin O'Leary and junior Colin Derdeyn set a new school record in the 200 medley relay to start the 2018 ACC Championship. Their time overtook the prior mark from 2014 held by Sean Murphy, Andrew Stranick, Tim Benage and (assistant coach) Dan Kelly.

Cortens' time of 22.60 in the 50-yard backstroke to lead off the medley relay shattered the old mark of 23.07.

O'Leary set two individual school records. His time of 1:48.42 in the 200 yard butterfly shaved 2.61 seconds off Dave Howard's record from 2016. In the 100 yard butterfly, O'Leary flew to a new record mark of 48.38, smashing the old time of 49.15.

Cortens qualified for finals in the 100 yard breaststroke with a record time of 54.46, breaking Andrew Stranick's record from 2013.

Kleinsmith took out the first half of his 100-yard breaststroke in a record time of 25.60. His time of 54.57 in the 100 is a lifetime best by 1.2 seconds and ranks 2nd in program history only behind Taylor Cortens' time from one heat earlier.

The men's 400 medley relay team of Cortens, Kleinsmith, O'Leary, and freshman Matt Shelton raced to a new mark of 3:16.80, surpassing the prior record held by Josh Williams, Kenz Cole, John Mooers, and Dan Kelly by nearly two seconds. All four of these student athletes will return next year.

Cortens lowered his own school record in the 100 yard backstroke with a new time of 48.99 as he led off the medley relay. The relay record is now Taylor's 11th school record.

Other BC Highlights:
Kleinsmith's time of 54.57 in the 100 yard breaststroke and Cortens' times of 54.46 and 1:47.92 in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM, respectively, qualify as NCAA "B" standard times, putting them in consideration for a bid to the NCAA Division I Championship in late March.

Senior Daniel Creighton finished out his career with strong performances in the 100 yard butterfly, 100 yard backstroke, and 200 yard backstroke. He concludes his career as the program's third fastest all-time performer in the 100 (49.72) and 200 yard backstroke (1:48.80).

Shelton concluded his season with career best performances in all four individual events he competed. He now currently ranks as the sixth and seventh fastest performer in program history in the 100 and 200 yard freestyle events. The freshman was also a member of the record-setting 400 medley relay.

Senior Kevin McCoy finished his final meet with career best performances in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, and 200 breaststroke. Kevin leaves as the program's fourth fastest all-time performer in the 200 and 400 yard individual medleys.