Yanchev, Kucheran Set FSU Records on Day Two of ACCs

Results

ATLANTA, Ga. – The No. 21/24 Florida State swimming and diving teams saw two school records fall on the second day of the 2022 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships at the McAuley Aquatics Center.

Yordan Yanchev established a new mark in the men’s 500 free at 4:14.16, taking down one of the oldest swimming records in the books, set by Kyle Young back in 2009 at 4:14.60.

Nina Kucheran lowered her 200 IM record to 1:56.68 after she set the standard back in November at 1:57.56.

“Both Nina and Yordan had great days,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “Nina had two awesome swims and looks set up for her best events later this week. Yordan really attacked tonight and dropped six seconds from the morning swim. It’s pretty exciting that he took down one of our oldest records.”

Yanchev, Kucheran Set FSU Records on Day Two of ACCs

Photo: Mitch White

Yordan Yanchev

Yanchev was seeded 16th out of prelims at 4:20.55. Swimming in the outside lane eight, Yanchev paced the heat early, establishing a sizable lead by the halfway mark. Yanchev keep his foot on the gas, winning the by over three seconds, touching with an NCAA consideration time that earned a 2021 meet invite.

Kucheran turned in her record in prelims, earning the ninth seed.

Working out of lane four, Kucheran pulled ahead after the breaststroke leg of the 200 IM, but finished third in the heat at 1:56.78 for 11th place overall.

Photo: Mitch White

Nina Kucheran

Finals started with the timed heats of the 200 free relays.

The women’s team added its season best at 1:29.39 behind Rebecca Moynihan, Jenny Halden, Tania Quaglieri and Maddie McDonald, finishing sixth.

After earning the NCAA automatic time back in November, the men’s squad also set a new season best in the 200 free relay, behind Peter Varjasi, Mason Herbet, Jakub Ksiazek and Max McCusker at 1:16.40.

Working in the final heat in lane two, Varjasi led off with his season best 50 free of 19.39. Herbet also posted his fastest 50 free split (19.02), followed by Ksiazek (19.25), keeping the Noles in fourth in the heat. McCusker dropped his best anchor leg at 18.47, but the Noles took fourth in the heat and fifth place overall.

Freshman Sydney Boals took the final spot in the C final of the women’s 500 free, after qualifying 24th behind a career best of 4:51.51.

Working out of lane eight, Boals swam faster, touching in 23rd place at 4:51.13. All told, Boals dropped over four seconds in the race from her previous best (4:55.91) that was set back on Jan. 28 against Tampa.

In the men’s 500 free, David Quirie placed 19th at 4:20.19 and Zach Smith followed in 23rd place (4:24.30) after posting his best in prelims at 4:21.92.

Senior Hannah Womer joined Kucheran in the 200 IM, also swimming a personal best in prelims, touching at 1:58.77, which is the third-fastest time in school history. At night, Womer held her 16th place qualification, touching at 2:01.88.

Photo: Mitch White

Edith Jernstedt

Edith Jernstedt competed in the bonus heat, touching with her best time at 1:59.83 for 21st place.

Herbet raced in the 200 IM consolation heat, taking 15th at 1:46.53 after swimming a 1:44.95 in the morning heats.

Moynihan clocked a season best in the women’s 50 free at 22.44, placing 12th ahead of Halden in 20th (22.62) and Kurdi in 14th (22.99).

The Seminoles had four in the final of the men’s 50 free, led by McCusker in 13th (19.48), after he swam his personal best of 19.28 in prelims. The performance is the sixth-fastest in school history. Varjasi followed in 15th at 19.60.

Ksiazek was the winner of the bonus heat, touching at 19.56, ahead of Ian Cooper in 19th at 19.62.

Photo: Mitch White

Darwin Nolasco

On the boards, David Vargas, Jesco Helling and Darwin Nolasco competed in prelims of men’s 1-meter. Vargas led the way for the Noles, scoring 290.00 for 14th place, while Helling contributed 18th place points with a total of 283.90.

“We learned a little bit about ourselves today,” FSU head diving coach John Proctor said. “These guys have one more event and for all three of them it’s their best one and we’ll see what they got. The ladies are ready to get back on the boards tomorrow.”

Prelims will start at 10 a.m. with heats of the 400 IM, 100 fly and 200 free. The top 24 will advance to finals, starting at 6 p.m., with the 200 medley relay. Women’s 3-meter diving prelims will start at 1 p.m. with the top eight moving on to finals.

After two days of competition, the No. 24 women’s team sits in ninth place with a total of 148 points, while the 21st-ranked men are sixth at 248.

All sessions will be available to watch through the ACC Network Extra. The ACC network will re-air certain sessions throughout the week:

Wed., Feb. 16: 5-8 p.m. ET (Day 1 Finals)

Thu., Feb. 17: Noon-3:30 p.m. ET (Day 2 Finals)

Fri., Feb. 18: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. ET (Day 3 Finals)

Sat., Feb. 19: 8-11 a.m. ET (Day 4 Finals)

Sun., Feb. 20: 8:30 a.m.-Noon ET (Day 5 Finals)

ACCNX BROADCAST LINKS:

Thursday

Prelims, 10 a.m. – https://noles.co/3GRrm3J

Finals, 6 p.m. – https://noles.co/33rTFs4

Friday