Watson Earns Silver, Duke Concludes Day Three at Women’s ACCs

Friday, February 19

Greensboro, N.C.

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Day Three at Women's ACC Championships

Watson Earns Silver, Duke Concludes Day Three at Women’s ACCs

2/19/2021 10:46:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

Preliminaries Results Finals Results

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore diver Ali Watson earned a silver medal in platform diving as the Duke swimming and diving program closed out the third day of competition at the Women's ACC Championships Friday night at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.

Prior to the evening swimming finals session, the Duke women divers took on the platform competition. Watson earned All-ACC recognition and the silver medal in the platform event. Her second-place score of 323.40 was the second-highest score in program history. She has now earned All-ACC recognition on platform in both of her two years at Duke after placing third in the event in 2020.

The Blue Devils saw 15 swimmers reach finals after competing in the morning preliminaries, including an 'A' Final appearance.

Five Blue Devils reached the finals in the 100 backstroke, led by sophomore Emma Shuppert in the 'B' Final. Shuppert touched in 53.22 to place 11th overall in the event. Junior Shayna Hollander (53.51), freshman Emily Lenihan (53.90), junior Rachel Peroni (54.70) and junior Zoe Lusk (54.79) represented Duke in the bonus final of the event.

Lenihan recorded a career best in the finals to move to seventh all-time in the event at Duke. In the preliminaries, Peroni and Lusk recorded times of 54.47 and 54.56 to place ninth and tenth in program lore, respectively.

Duke placed four finalists in the 100 breaststroke. Freshman Sarah Foley swam a career-best 1:00.36 to place second in the 'B' Final and improve her second-place time in Duke history. Sophomore Kayle Park also represented Duke in the consolation final with a time of 1:01.37. Graduate Mia Bullock and freshman Catherine Belyakov competed in the bonus final with times of 1:01.67 and 1:02.80.

Freshman Catherine Purnell and junior Cabell Whitlow participated in the 400 individual medley finals for Duke. Purnell reached the 'A' Final and clocked a 4:13.58 for a career best and the fifth-fastest time in Duke history. Whitlow finished in 4:17.81 to place 15th overall in the event.

Peroni and Lenihan also appeared in the 100 butterfly 'C' Final for the Blue Devils. Peroni touched in 53.15 while Lenihan recorded a 53.52 as both women recorded career-best times. The duo now sits sixth and ninth all-time at Duke, respectively.

Seniors Quinn Scannell and Carly Perri were the lone Blue Devils in the 200 freestyle finals as Scannell placed 15th and Perri placed 20th.

Duke concluded the night in the 400 medley relay. The Blue Devil quartet of Shuppert, Foley, Peroni and Scannell placed sixth in the event while swimming a time of 3:36.22 for the sixth fastest time in program history.

The Blue Devils will next compete in the men's platform diving and the women's 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay on Saturday at the championships. The evening action will begin at 7 p.m., at the GAC in Greensboro, N.C.

Team Scores:
1) Virginia (1047)
2) NC State (879)
3) Louisville (683.5)
4) Virginia Tech (578)
5) Notre Dame (509)
6) Duke (502)
7) North Carolina (399.5)
8) Georgia Tech (391)
9) Florida State (380)
10) Miami (329)
11) Pittsburgh (277)
12) Boston College (147)

Top Duke Finishers by Event:
Women's Platform Diving: Ali Watson (2nd), 323.40
Women's 100 Butterfly: Rachel Peroni (18th), 53.15
Women's 400 Individual Medley: Catherine Purnell (8th), 4:13.58
Women's 200 Freestyle: Quinn Scannell (15th), 1:48.45
Women's 100 Breaststroke: Sarah Foley (10th), 1:00.36
Women's 100 Backstroke: Emma Shuppert (11th), 53.22
Women's 400-Yard Medley Relay: Emma Shuppert, Sarah Foley, Rachel Peroni, Quinn Scannell (6th), 3:36.22

#GoDuke