Feb. 22, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Georgia Tech women’s swimming and diving team made great strides in just its second year of competition, finishing sixth at the 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships at North Carolina’s Koury Natatorium. The Jackets tallied 259 points, defeating both NC State and Duke, and improving on last year’s eighth-place finish.
Virginia captured its fourth conference championship with 710 points, defeating North Carolina, which finished second with 609 points. Florida State finished third for the second consecutive year with 557 points. Maryland finished fourth (538), Clemson fifth (339), Georgia Tech sixth (259), NC State seventh (241), and Duke eighth (230).
Tech’s top finish of the day came from freshman Ashley Kracke, who placed fourth in the 200-yard backstroke. She met the NCAA “B” qualifying standard and eclipsed the school record she set earlier in the day with a time of 1:59.76. Sophomore Anna Saum won the consolation final of the 200 back (ninth overall) and also met the “B” standard with a time of 2:01.22.
The Jackets also got strong showings from finalists Lisa Hancock, who was sixth in the 200 fly with a time of 2:02.82, and Cara DeVinny, who was seventh in the 200 breast in 2:21.08. Additionally, freshman Meghan DeVinney met the NCAA “B” qualifying standard with a time of 2:02.28 in the 200 fly.
Freshman Laurissa Prystaj led the Tech divers with a ninth-place finish on the three-meter board and a score of 418.75, which tops the school record.
Also scoring for Tech was sophomore Ann Battle, who was 14th in the 1650 free in 17:16.34.
Maryland’s Shandra Johnson was unanimously voted the meet’s most valuable swimmer, capturing three individual titles in her first ACC meet. Florida State’s Chelsie Lerew was deemed the most valuable diver of the meet, sweeping the competition with first place finishes on both the one- and three-meter boards.
The Jackets’ men’s team will compete in the 2003 Men’s ACC Championships, February 27 to March 1, also in Chapel Hill.
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