The competition between the Tar Heels of North Carolina and the Duke Blue Devils this weekend resulted in a total of eight new pool records for the Taishoff Aquatics Pavilion. The Tar Heels took to the road against their ACC foe, winning the women’s meet 179 to 121. The Duke men kept the meet competitive, but ultimately were unable to defend their Senior Day and fell to the visiting team 156-142. North Carolina claimed six of the newest pool records with four going to their women and a pair of male performances. Duke’s men broke two records in all, one of which belonged to a Blue Devil sophomore. Eleven seniors from Duke were recognized and celebrated the last home meet of their careers.
The Duke women’s team opened their Senior Day with a victory in the 200 medley relay, splitting a time of 1:40.78 over UNC’s 1:41.06. The Blue Devil’s B relay raced a 1:29.03 and earned the top time after the disqualification of their A relay, while the Tar Heels posted a 1:29.23 for their effort. Verity Abel’s 10:00.47 cleared the women’s 1000 free as her Duke teammate Matt Johnson lowered his own 1000 free record to 9:08.00 from 9:16.58 for a new pool record. Abel also posted a 4:52.05 in the 500 free for a second distance event title.
North Carolina’s Nic Graesser broke the men’s 100 back record with a 48.40 against a trio of Blue Devils while Rachel Canty clocked a 1:01.68 in the 100 yard breast for the first women’s record for North Carolina. The Tar Heels swept both 100 flys, resulting in one new pool record by Sam Lewis (47.32). The senior from Alpharetta, GA was joined by teammate Helen Moffitt, the winner of the women’s 100 fly (53.29). Moffitt earned North Carolina additional wins the 100 back (54.16) and the 200 back (1:57.54).
Kendall Surhoff registered the third Tar Heel record in the 400 IM (4:19.80) and the fourth and final record was broken during the 200 free relay. Caroline Baldwin (23.27), Sarah Hitchens (22.66), Allyn Hardesty (22.90), and Lauren Earp (22.68) bonded together for fresh mark of 1:31.51. The previous men’s 200 free relay record of 1:21.08, held by Clemson’s 2012 visit, was shattered by the Duke’s swim of 1:19.70. With senior David Armstrong’s send-off split of 20.28 leading the way, Michael Seaberg (19.72), Dylan Payne (20.27), and James Peek (19.33) closed the last meet of the regular season with with a winner takes all performance against North Carolina’s 1:20.57 relay, a time that also finished under the prior standard.
North Carolina Set Pool Records
- Rachel Canty 100 breast – 1:01.68
- Hellen Moffitt 100 fly – 53.29
- Kendall Surhoff 400 IM – 4:19.80
- Nic Graesser 100 back – 48.80
- Sam Lewis 100 fly – 47.32
- North Carolina women’s 200 free relay – 1:31.51
Duke Set Pool Records
- Matt Johnson 1000 free – 9:08.00
- Duke men’s 200 free relay – 1:19.70
I believe you made a typo there, the UNC men won the meet