Get ready for an epic swim meet recap! Virginia Women and NC State Men Dominate, Smashing 12 Pool Records in Raleigh.
On January 23, 2026, at the Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center, Raleigh, NC, a thrilling dual meet unfolded between NC State and UVA. Initially planned as a two-day event, the meet was condensed to one day due to a winter storm, but the swimmers' performance was anything but diminished.
Virginia Women's Triumph and Record-Breaking Extravaganza:
The UVA women's team put on an extraordinary display, breaking an astonishing ten pool records. Three standout swimmers, each contributing two record-breaking performances, led the way.
The meet began with a bang as the UVA 'A' relay team, comprising Sara Curtis, Emma Weber, Claire Curzan, and Anna Moesch, dominated the women's 200 medley relay. Their time of 1:32.67 was almost two seconds faster than their own 'B' relay, setting a new pool record. Moesch's anchor leg split of 20.82 was her personal best, an incredible achievement.
NC State freshman Eneli Jefimova also made her mark with the fastest breaststroke split in the field, clocking 26.40 on the 'A' relay. However, it was Virginia who claimed the win and another pool record in the 400 free relay. Curtis, Curzan, Madi Mintenko, and Moesch combined for a new season-best time of 3:07.62, just shy of Stanford's national-leading time.
Claire Curzan had an extraordinary day, setting two new pool records in the butterfly events. Her morning performance in the 200 fly was exceptional, clocking 1:51.35 and jumping to second in the country this season. She led a UVA sweep, with Carly Novelline and Lana Pudar finishing second and third, respectively.
In the 100 fly, Curzan continued her dominance, touching in 49.13, a new season best and just off her personal record. This performance put her second in the country this season, closely behind Torri Huske's time.
Katie Grimes' Double Record-Breaking Performance:
Katie Grimes had an equally impressive meet, breaking two pool records. She started with the 1000 freestyle, touching in 9:28.49, her fastest collegiate swim in the event. Grimes' swim ranked fourth in the country this season.
Grimes then went on to win the 500 freestyle in record-breaking fashion, clocking 4:36.04, a new season best. She led another UVA sweep, with Cavan Gormsen and Bailey Hartman finishing second and third, respectively.
Aimee Canny's Triple Victory and Records:
Aimee Canny was another standout performer for the Cavaliers, winning three events and setting new records. She started with the 200 freestyle, leading a UVA sweep and setting a new record with her time of 1:42.81. Canny then went on to set a pool record in the 200 breast, swimming a new season best of 2:06.54.
In the women's 200 IM, Canny led another UVA sweep, touching in 1:54.77 and finishing more than a second ahead of her teammates. Sara Curtis and Anna Moesch split the sprint freestyle events and pool records, with Curtis breaking the 50 free record and Moesch taking down the 100 free record previously held by Kate Douglass.
NC State Men's Record-Breaking Freshman:
While Virginia dominated, NC State's men's team also had a standout performer in freshman Max Carlsen. Carlsen had a monster meet, setting two new pool records and an ACC record in the men's 1000 freestyle. His time of 8:41.12 was a new ACC record, breaking Lance Norris's previous mark.
Carlsen continued his impressive performance in the 500 freestyle, touching in 4:11.89, a new lifetime best. He led another NC State sweep in this event, with Mikolaj Filipiak, Lance Norris, and Kyle Ponsler finishing second, third, and fourth, respectively.
The NC State men picked up an easy victory over UVA in the remaining events. They started with the top time in the 200 medley relay, with Hudson Williams, Arsen Kozhakhmetov, Aiden Hayes, and Quintin McCarty swimming 1:23.22, more than a second ahead of Virginia.
Individual Event Victories:
Both teams had their fair share of individual event victories. Leah Shackley won both distances of backstroke for NC State, while the women's 100 breast was won by Eneli Jefimova. Grace Hurley dominated the diving events for the Wolfpack, as UVA does not have a diving program.
On the men's side, Maximus Williamson picked up wins in the 200 freestyle and 200 IM, while Thomas Heilman won the 200 fly and 100 fly. David King took the men's 200 backstroke, with NC State's Gavin Keogh finishing second.
And there you have it!:
A thrilling dual meet, shortened by a winter storm, still produced an incredible 12 pool records. The Virginia women and NC State men dominated, with standout performances from Claire Curzan, Katie Grimes, Aimee Canny, Max Carlsen, and many more. It's a testament to the talent and dedication of these swimmers.
What an exciting start to the season! Who do you think will continue their record-breaking ways? Let's discuss in the comments!
