ACC Prelims Day 2: Leah Smith Cruises, UNC's Baldwin Breaks Meet Record

Prelims from Day two at the 2017 ACC Championships in Atlanta saw Olympian Leah Smith cruise to the top spot in the 500 freestyle and a new meet record from Caroline Baldwin of North Carolina in the 50 freestyle.

Feb 14, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

ACC Prelims Day 2: Leah Smith Cruises, UNC's Baldwin Breaks Meet Record

500-Yard Freestyle

ACC Meet: 4:30.74 (Leah Smith - Virginia, 2016)
Conference: 4:30.37 (Leah Smith - Virginia, 2016)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 4:36.30
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 4:47.79

Leah Smith of Virginia ran away with the preliminary heats of the 500 freestyle with a blazing 4:31.60 at the Atlantic Coast Conference championships in Atlanta on Tuesday. She finished well ahead of second place qualifier Hannah Moore of N.C. State in 4:38.52. Louisville's Mallory Comerford, who dropped the hammer with a 1:41.12 200 freestyle split in Monday night's 800 freestyle relay, will be the dark horse in Tuesday's final.

Full Results for Top 8

1.) Leah Smith (Virginia): 4:31.60 (NCAA 'A')
2.) Hannah Moore (N.C. State): 4:38.52
3.) Jessica Hespeler (Virginia Tech): 4:39.44
4.) Mallory Comerford (Louisville): 4:41.02
5.) Rachel Muller (N.C. State): 4:42.33
6.) Macey Arnold (North Carolina): 4:42.62
7.) Amanda Richey (Pittsburgh): 4:43.70
8.) Cecelia Williams (Virginia): 4:46.12

200 IM

ACC Meet: 1:54.92 (Emma Reaney - Notre Dame, 2014)
Conference: 1:54.92 (Emma Reaney - Notre Dame, 2014)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 1:55.35
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 2:01.59

N.C. State senior Alexia Zevnik takes the top spot in the 200 IM with a quick 1:55.85. She might be the lone wolf for N.C. State in the "A" Final, but look for her to scare the ACC meet record tonight. The Louisville Cardinals also made a strong push in the team competition by placing three swimmers in the top heat with Rachel Bradford-Feldman in fifth, Alina Kendzior in seventh, and Andee Cottrell sneaking in eighth place.

Full Results for Top 8

1.) Alexia Zevnik (N.C. State): 1:55.85
2.) Jennifer Marrkand (Virginia): 1:56.30
3.) Kaitlyn Jones (Virginia): 1:56.34
4.) Reka Gyorgy (Virginia Tech): 1:57.85
5.) Rachel Bradford-Feldman (Louisville): 1:57.97
6.) Fiona Donnelly (Virginia Tech): 1:58.16
7.) Alina Kendzior (Louisville): 1:58.54
8.) Andrea Cottrell (Louisville): 1:58.60

50 Freestyle

ACC Meet: ~~21.85 (Kelsi Worrell - Louisville, 2016)~~ 21.78 (Caroline Baldwin - UNC, 2017)
Conference: 21.57 (Kelsi Worrell - Louisville, 2016)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 21.80
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 22.99

Speed. Speed. Speed. The preliminary heats of the 50 freestyle on Tuesday morning did not disappoint. Four women were under the 22-second barrier, including two NCAA "A" automatic qualifying times and a new ACC meet record. Caroline Baldwin of North Carolina led the way with a blazing-fast 21.78, which is tied with Simone Manuel for the fifth-fastest time in the country so far this season. N.C. State's sprint star Ky-lee Perry was nipping at her heels with a 21.80 for second place. What's most impressive? Both N.C. State and North Carolina had two swimmers go 21-second flat to start the 50 freestyles and swept the top four spots. The 200 freestyle relay should be electric later in the meet.

Full Results for Top 8

1.) Caroline Baldwin (North Carolina): 21.78 (ACC MEET RECORD, NCAA 'A')
2.) Ky-lee Perry (N.C. State): 21.80 (NCAA 'A')
3.) Sarah Hitchens (North Carolina): 21.99
3.) Courtney Caldwell (N.C. State): 21.99
5.) Caitlin Cooper (Virginia): 22.08
6.) Casey Fanz (Louisville): 22.09
7.) Natalie Labonge (N.C. State): 22.18
8.) Ellen Thomas (Virginia): 22.20