STANFORD, Calif. - No. 2 Stanford swimming & diving celebrated day three of the ACC Championships with its first conference champion, as freshman Ellie Cole captured the ACC title in the platform dive on Tuesday afternoon.
Cole delivered an extraordinary performance, leading the field in the prelims with a 332.80 before posting a remarkable 392.40 in the finals to win by 67.6 points. Cole recorded eight dives over 70 points throughout the day and averaged a 78.48 dive score in the finals session an highlighted by an 80.00 Armstand Back 2 Somersault 1½ Twist Free and a 92.80 Back 2½ Somersault 1½ Twist Pike.
The freshman's final total broke modern meet and conference records, and marks the second consecutive season a Stanford freshman has won the ACC platform crown. Last season, Anna Lemkin claimed last year's championship with a 338.60.
Cole was joined in the event finals with teammate Emilie Moore, who finished fifth with the 245.30. Moore's opening two dives set the tone for her finals run, as her Forward 2½ Somersault 1 Twist Pike (60.90) and Forward 3½ Somersault Pike (60.00) propelled her to the best conference finish of her career in the platform dive.
Tuesday also marked the start of the swimming portion of the championships, where the Cardinal earned podium finishes in a pair of relay events.
Alana Berlin, Lucy Thomas, Torri Huske, and Annam Olasewere began the evening with a program-record 1:32.94 to finish third in the 200 medley relay, breaking the previous Stanford mark of 1:33.00 set at last season’s NCAA Championships.
Caroline Bricker, Gigi Johnson, Lucy Bell, and Kayla Wilson closed out the opening night of swimming with a 6:54.09 to finish third in the 800 freestyle relay.
After three days of competition, the Cardinal leads the meet standings with 261 points. The ACC Swimming & Diving Championships continue tomorrow with the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, and 200 free relay. Prelims will begin at 6:30 a.m. PT, followed by the finals at 2:30 p.m. PT.