Wolfpack Women Add Three Titles on Day 3 of NCAA Championships
3/19/2021 9:08:00 PM | Swimming
GREENSBORO, N.C. – After winning the first swimming national title in program history last night, the Wolfpack women continued to add to their record-setting meet as Sophie Hansson (100 breaststroke) and Katharine Berkoff (100 backstroke) claimed the first two individual titles in program history.
Hansson was technically the first to claim the crown as she and Berkoff won back-to-back event titles. The Pack then added a victory in the 200-yard medley relay to close out a three-title night for the team.
After another solid night of finals swims, the Pack heads into the final day of the national meet in second place with 241 total points. Virginia owns the top spot with 344 points.
100 BREASTSTROKE:
Hansson entered the meet with the No. 2 seed in the 100-yard breaststroke and swam the fastest time in the prelims to enter the A final as the favorite. The junior did not disappoint, finishing in 57.23. That mark lowered her ACC record and is the third-fastest in event history.
History made: AGAIN.@HanssonSophie becomes the first women's swimmer in team history to win an NCAA individual title!#GoPack pic.twitter.com/RXNehais3z
— NC State Swimming & Diving (@packswimdive) March 19, 2021
Andrea Podmanikova joined her in the A final, with her time of 58.62 checking in at seventh. Olivia Calegan swam in the consolation final. After clocking in at a career-best 58.88 in the prelims, she touched in 59.12 for 13th overall at night.
Additional prelim results: Abby Arens (29th - 1:00.11)
100 BACK:
Berkoff took ownership of the ACC record with her 100-yard backstroke win immediately following. She hit the sub-50 second mark, clocking in at 49.74 for the NCAA title win. The sophomore headed into a tight final turn but dominated the final 25 yards of the race to pull out in front of the field and secure the win.
Additional prelim results: Katey Lewicki (36th - 53.31), Danika Huizinga (53.87)
That 100 back race as promised 🤩
— NC State Swimming & Diving (@packswimdive) March 20, 2021
Peep that last underwater by @_katpoop!!#GoPack pic.twitter.com/TWmE8PgUrq
200 MEDLEY RELAY:
The Wolfpack closed out the night with its third-straight victory, this time coming in a dominant 200-yard medley relay win. The team's fourth gold of the NCAA Championships came in a time of 1:33.18 that was just off a meet record.
We needed one more 🏆 on this Friday!@_katpoop (23.27), @HanssonSophie (25.92), @sirenarowe_ (22.73) and @kylee_alons (21.26) take the 200 medley W in 1:33.18!#GoPack pic.twitter.com/2pFmFcRMIZ
— NC State Swimming & Diving (@packswimdive) March 20, 2021
Berkoff gave NC State's squad an early lead with a 23.27 backstroke split, and Hansson's 25.92 breaststroke leg extended the advantage to nearly a body length. Rowe maintained that lead with a 22.73 butterfly split, and Alons closed out the race with a 21.26 freestyle leg. The Pack won by nearly a second.
100 FLY:
After placing three spots out of the consolation final during her rookie campaign, Alons easily earned a spot in the 100-yard butterfly A final this season. The junior has now swam in the A finals of both of her individual races at the meet thus far.
In the evening session, Alons swam a personal-best 50.35 to lower her program record and take fifth place.
400 IM:
A two-time ACC champion in the 400-yard individual medley, senior Kate Moore earned the highest NCAA finish of her career in the event on Friday. She placed 12th overall in a time of 4:07.30 to claim honorable mention All-America status.
Additional prelim results: Emma Muzzy (27th - 4:13.08), Yara Hierath (35th - 4:15.26)
200 FREE:
Prelim results: Julia Poole (25th - 1:46.40)
UP NEXT:
The Wolfpack women will wrap up their season with a final day of NCAA Championships action on Saturday. Prelims will begin at 10 a.m., the early heats of the 1,650-yard freestyle will be raced beginning at 3:45 p.m. and the finals are set to start at 6 p.m. All of those sessions will be broadcast live on WatchESPN.
#GoPack | @packswimdive
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