FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARY, NC – The NCHSAA 4A State Swimming & Diving Championships got off to a fast start as in the first men’s championship heat of the day, both Hough and South Mecklenburg broke the state 200 Medley Relay record, which the Hough relay squad had set in the preliminary heats earlier in the morning. South Mecklenburg edged the Huskies when it mattered most, taking home the title with a time of 1:32.58, just .13 seconds better than Hough.

Six swimmers or relay teams broke state records during the men’s and women’s meet, but that all happened in three championship heats.

South Mecklenburg ran away with the men’s meet, defeating second place Hough 378-242.

Hough’s Will Chan tied the state record in the 100 Breaststroke during the preliminary heats, finishing with a time of 55.14. That matched the 2013 time of Daniel Le from Northwest Guilford. Chan was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer, as the only men’s double winner, taking the 200 Individual Medley as well as the 100 Breaststroke.

On the women’s side, Hough came into the swimming portion with a 45-point head start after four Hough divers finished in the points in the diving event yesterday. The Huskies quickly ran out to an even larger advantage as they snatched the first relay of the day, the 200 Medley Relay by almost three seconds. Hough posted a time of 1:43.21 ahead of second place Green Hope’s 1:46.07.

The Huskies ran away and hid from the rest of the field from there, as they swam to a 387-222 victory over second place Green Hope. The 4A defending champions, Charlotte Catholic, saw their streak of 14 consecutive state swimming championships snapped as they finished in third place with 176 points.

Julia Poole of Middle Creek edged Jessica Merritt of Hough 1:59.76 to 1:59.95 in the 200 Individual Medley. Both swimmers broke the state record from 2008 set by Kirsten Smith of Athens Drive (2:00.58). Poole was named the women’s competition’s Most Outstanding Swimmmer winning the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Breaststroke. She also swam on the 200 Medley Relay team that finished 9^th and the 3^rd place 400 Freestyle Relay team.

Grace Countie of Leesville Road won the women’s 50 Free with a record time of 22.75 seconds. Erika Brown from Hough also eclipsed the state record time, finishing the 50 Free in 22.84 seconds. The previous record was held by Nora McCullagh (22.88) of Charlotte Catholic, set back in 2014.

Julia Menkhaus of Charlotte Catholic brought home the 100 Butterfly on the women’s side in a 4A record time of 54.12 seconds.

The 2016 NCHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships continue tomorrow at Triangle Aquatic Center with the 3A Championships, followed by the 1A/2A Championships on Saturday.