Feb. 15, 2011
Complete ACC Meet Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming & diving team travels to Atlanta this week, taking part in the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships held at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center on the Georgia Tech Campus. The event runs February 16-19.
Miami (8-1) is riding the best single-season record in more than 10 years, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Christie Shefchunas. The Hurricanes have won 12 of their last 13 dual races, and look to improve upon last season’s ACC finish in which three swimmers earned NCAA “B” qualifying times, including senior Annika Saarnak.
Saarnak, one of Shefchunas’ first recruits at UM, is the school’s record-holder in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. On the season, she has already earned NCAA “B” cut times in both the 50- and 100 freestyle, in addition to the 100 fly.
Sophomore Sofia Johansson was another swimmer to earn an NCAA “B” cut time in last year’s conference championships, only to come back this year earning the mark again earlier in the season for the 100 breaststroke. Teammate Whitney Stephenson surged for UM throughout the year in the 100- and 200 backstroke, putting together an NCAA “B” qualifying mark in the 200 back.
The Hurricanes will look towards the 400 freestyle relay team of Annika Saarnak (leadoff), Kelsi Hall (second), Whitney Stephenson (third) and Lauren Jacoby (anchor) to lead the charge in the relay events. The team registered an NCAA “B” qualifying time this year at the Georgia Tech Invitational inside the GT Aquatics Center with a mark of 3:24.30.
In diving competition, all four female divers consisting of Lindsay Lester, Thea Vock, Carrie Dragland and USA Diving Winter National Champion Brittany Viola (10m platform) will be in action. Freshman male diver Samuel Dorman will participate this week as well. All four UMiami divers have qualified for next month’s NCAA Diving “B” Zone Qualifier in Athens, Ga.
“I really think heading into ACC’s that we can do some great things,” said swimming head coach Christie Shefchunas.
Live results for the ACC Championships can be accessed by clicking here, or simply logging on to TheACC.com. Results will update after each event throughout the course of the four-day event.
Beginning on Thursday, Feb. 17, live video streams of each evening’s finals events will also be available by clicking here, or logging on to TheACC.com.
For complete coverage of this year’s ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, locate your internet browser to TheACC.com and browse to the ACC Swimming & Diving Championships page.
For more information on the University of Miami swimming & diving team, please log on to HurricaneSports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes swimming & diving program.
You can keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports. You can also become a fan of the ‘Canes on Facebook at Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes.