Miami Opens Championships with Silver Medal

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami swimming& diving team started its run at the 2013 Atlantic Coast ConferenceChampionships in impressive fashion Wednesday, as the Canes’ 200-Yard MedleyRelay entry captured a silver medal in the night’s opening event.

“I’m really excited about the evening,” head swimming coachChristie Shefchunas said. “It sets us up for a great week.”

The 200 Medley Relay team, comprised of senior CelesteDegen, senior Sofia Johansson, freshman Katie Ligon and sophomore Lucy Worrall,touched the wall in an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:38.45. The Hurricanes, who earneda bronze medal in the event at the 2012 ACC Championships, finished narrowlybehind Virginia Tech (1:38.30) and just ahead of third-place NC State(1:38.52).

“We always want to be on the medal stand in the 200 MedleyRelay, so to get silver is a huge deal,” Shefchunas said. “Lucy’s butterflysplit was the fastest of the meet, and we’re excited about that too. It was agreat team performance.”

The Hurricanes’ 800-Yard Freestyle Relay team ended thenight with a strong showing of its own, taking fourth in the event. SeniorChristine Andersen, freshman My Fridell, senior Hannah Kling and Worralltouched the wall in 7:17.60. The finish was the best of any 800 Freestyle Relayteam under Coach Shefchunas, now in her seventh year at the helm of theprogram.

“It sets us up for a great week,” Shefchunas said. “We’reall looking forward to it. The girls are in great spirits, and we know it’sgoing to be a great week.”

The Hurricanes continue their run at the Greensboro AquaticCenter Thursday. For live updates from the ACC Championships, visit@ACCSwimDive or http://www.theacc.co/swimdivechamps.