Upcoming Event: Swimming & Diving versus Boston College on September 26, 2025 at 4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
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4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
Swimming & Diving
vs Boston College
2020-21 Swimming & Diving Roster
LaFata, Spencer
Spencer LaFata
- Position:
- Free/Fly
- Height:
- 6-1
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- Fordham Preparatory
- Hometown:
- Pelham, N.Y.
Bio
Honors:Â
- ACC Academic Honor Roll (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21)
Career: Distance freestyle specialist ... Holds three top-10 times in program history in the distance freestyle events at the time of graduation ... Reached two finals at the ACC meet, placing 23rd in the 200 butterfly (2018) and 23rd in the 1,650 freestyle (2019) ... Four-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
2020-21: Concluded his final season by competing in three events at the ACC Championship ... Recorded a personal best time in the 200 butterfly at ACCs (1:48.25) ... Also clocked season-best times in the 500 freestyle and the 1,000 freestyle at the conference meet ... Missed the fall competition slate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019-20: Reached four finals in the mid-season NC State GAC Invitational in November ... Placed 19th in the 400 IM by swimming a career best 4:03.08 ... Also reached the finals in the 1650 free (18th), 200 fly (21st) and 500 free (24th) ... Wrapped up his season with a pair of third-place finishes in the 500 and 1000 free against North Carolina.
2018-19: Moved up two spots from his performance in the mile a year prior, taking 23rd in the event at the ACC Championships with a best time of 15:23.52 ... 1,000 freestyle split of 9:13.69 ranked fourth on the Blue Devils' all-time performance list ... Turned in a pair of thrilling victories in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle to help Duke defeat North Carolina in the regular season finale (2/2) ... Earned a top-10 finish in the 1,650 freestyle at the Tennessee Invitational … Took third in the mile at the Big Al Invitational.
2017-18: Scored for Duke at his first ACC Championships, placing 23rd in the 200 butterfly with a time that ranked him seventh on the all-time performance list (1:48.70) ... Also took 25th in the mile, with his mark of 15:24.67 ranking fifth in school history ... Moved up to fifth on the Blue Devils’ all-time performance list in the 500 freestyle (4:26.19) as well ... Recorded the ninth-fastest 1,000 freestyle mark in program history in a fifth-place finish at No. 25 Virginia (11/3).Â
Prior to Duke: 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifier in the 1500-meter freestyle … Summer Junior Nationals qualifier in the 400 and 1500-meter freestyle … Turned in a pair of top-30 finishes in the 800 and 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2017 U.S. Open … All-American as a junior and senior at Fordham Preparatory School … State champion in the 500 freestyle as a junior while also taking second in the 200 freestyle … Member of 200 and 400 freestyle relays that also captured state crowns at that meet … Guided Fordham to state titles as a senior, sophomore and freshman … Won the 1500-meter freestyle at the Quebec Cup as a freshman … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American … Member of the Badger Swim Club program … Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Sue and Joe LaFata … Has one brother (Dillon).
LaFata Career Bests:
200 Free: 1:40.44 ... 2018 Tennessee Invitational
500 Free: 4:26.01 ... 7th all-time at Duke ... 2019 ACC Championships
1,000 Free: 9:13.69 ... 6th all-time at Duke ... 2019 ACC Championships
1,650 Free: 15:23.52 ... 6th all-time at Duke ... 2019 ACC Championships
100 Fly: 52.24 ... 2018 Big Al Invite
200 Fly: 1:48.25Â ... 2021Â ACC Championships
400 IM: 4:03.08 ... 2019 NC State GAC Invitational
At the ACC Championships:
2018: 23rd, 200 Fly ... 1:49.39
2019: 23rd, 1,650 Free ... 15:23.52
Last updated on 8/16/2021
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