GREENSBORO, N.C. — Jack Hoagland reached the podium for the second time this week for Notre Dame, placing second in the 400 IM and breaking a school record. His performance among multiple other finals showings boosted the Irish up one spot in the rankings to sixth after the third day of competition at the ACC Championships.
“We had a great night tonight hitting 15 out of a possible 20 swims,” Notre Dame head coach Mike Litzinger attested. “This team is fighting hard and is working their way back, positioning themselves for a top-four finish.”
PRELIMS
On a day that saw many Irish swimmers compete and punch slots to finals, Notre Dame started it off with the 100 Fly prelims. Aaron Schultz (18th – 46.84), Jack Montesi (22nd – 47.11) and Zach Smith (24th – 47.23) qualified for finals in the event.
Notre Dame took the 400 IM by storm, as Hoagland posted the top time (3:43.45) in prelims, and five other Irish swimmers went through to finals. Will Cumberland (3:48.14) placed ninth, while Max Miranda placed 10th with a time of 3:48.34 to make him the seventh-fastest performer in the event in Notre Dame records. Marci Barta (3:50.74-14th), Nick Milikich (3:51.32-16th) and Andrew Winton (3:51.47-18th) rounded out the Irish attack.
In the 200 Free, Sadler McKeen became the third-fastest swimmer in Notre Dame records for the event after a 1:33.90 prelim swim (third). Zach Yeadon also made finals, claiming 10th with a 1:34.91.
Josh Bottelberghe claimed his spot as the third-fastest performer in school history in the 100 Breast, posting a 52.95 to place into the A final (seventh). Matt Limbacher posted a 53.61, good for 11th and improving his time as the 10th-fastest performer in program records. Rex Riley piled on, touching the wall in 53.86 for 12th place.
Finishing out the morning, Montesi (46.77, 11th) and Smith (47.73, 22nd) qualified for finals in the 100 Back.
FINALS
To lead off the night, Schultz kept his 18th-place slot in 100 Fly finals, posting a 46.81, while Montesi improved one spot to 21st (47.14) and Smith also improved to 23rd (47.25).
Hoagland sped to a 3:40.73 in the 400 IM, a new school record good for a second-place podium appearance.
“I’m certainly proud of Jack’s new ND record in the IM and his silver medal performance,” Litzinger praised. “It was outstanding for a freshman to handle that kind of pressure.”
Also in the 400 IM, Miranda stood in 10th with a 3:46.58 to jump to fifth-all time performer, while Cumberland placed 12th (3:48.10). Barta turned in a 3:50.22, good for 14th, while Milikich followed at 15th with a 3:50.70. Winton rounded it out with a 3:49.59 for 18th.
McKeen took fourth overall in the 200 Free, posting a 1:34.26, and Yeadon finished 11th with a 1:34.39. In the 100 Breast, Bottelberghe jumped two slots to place fifth (52.68), improving his time as the third-fastest Irish performer in the event. Limbacher placed 11th (53.44), improving to eighth-fastest performer in Notre Dame history, while Rex Riley posted a 54.14 (15th).
“Sadler McKeen and Josh Bottelberghe both put up huge swims in the 200 Free and 100 Breast respectively,” the Irish head coach noted. “They helped lead the charge for our team’s movement today.”
In the 100 Back, Montesi placed 11th with a 46.86, and Smith placed 23rd, touching the wall in 48.31. To round out the evening, the Irish 400 Medley Relay of Montesi, Bottelberghe, Smith and McKeen placed seventh (3:09.36).
UP NEXT
Notre Dame returns to the pool Saturday for the final day of the ACC Championships.
“Tomorrow, the full squad is in action, and we are looking forward to making up more points and being on the move,” Litzinger looked ahead.
Prelims for the 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly and 1650 Free begin at 10 a.m., while finals for those events and the 400 Free Relay begin at 6 p.m. The exception will be the early heats of the 1650 Free, which will begin at 3:50 p.m.
Finals will be broadcast live on ACCN Extra (https://theacc.co/msd20accnx3), and live timing can be accessed at http://sidearmstats.com/acc/swimming/index.htm.
STANDINGS | COMPLETE RESULTS
- NC State – 853
- Virginia – 762
- Louisville – 746
- Virginia Tech – 596
- Florida State – 589.5
- NOTRE DAME – 558.5
- North Carolina – 486
- Pittsburgh – 385
- Georgia Tech – 379
- Duke – 344
- Miami – 197
- Boston College – 102