Women's Swimming Team Opens Season in Greensboro

GREENBSBORO, N.C. - The UNC Asheville women's swimming team kicked their 2014-15 season off with a bang on the first night of the 2014 All North Carolina Invitational with a team record.

The foursome of Emily Werth (Marlton, N.J.), Shannon Kennedy (Winter Springs, Fla.), Carly Emerson (Gastonia, N.C.) and Alejandra Sanchez (Mexico City, Mexico) combined to break UNC Asheville's freshman record in the 400 medley relay posting a time of 4:06.97. Their time tops the 4:07.19 tallied by Galen Broido (Hinesburg, Vt.), Chloe Carr (Charlotte, N.C.), Alessandra Troncoso (Burke, Va.), and Ashley Ireland (Concord, N.C.) in the 2012-13 season, the program's first.

The Bulldogs showed rapid improvement as every single swimmer recorded a season best time in at least one event, while freshman Stephanie Smith (Wilmington, N.C.) garnered a second lifetime best in as many weeks in the 200 individual medley in 2:17.63. More impressive, perhaps, was the fact that several of tonight's performances came within five seconds of those individual's lifetime best performances. At only seven weeks into the season, the future certainly looks bright for the Blue and White.

“I am very excited with the way the team performed today,” said head coach Elizabeth Lykins. “Everyone had the opportunity to race and improve. I feel like this team is much better prepared for this meet than in seasons past.”

Other highlights of the night included Broido and Sanchez's 11th and 17th place performances, respectively, in the 500 freestyle, Ireland's team-best 25.07 in the 50 freestyle, and Emerson's 2:19.75 in the individual medley. Additionally, Werth, Smith, Reid Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.) and Ireland combined to finish the 200 freestyle relay in 1:42.71, a nearly four-second improvement from the team's exhibition meet two weeks ago.

Tomorrow, the Bulldogs will continue to compete tomorrow in the final two timed finals sessions of the All North Carolina Invitational.