With the World Aquatic Championships in ***uoka, Japan, ending, 10 Wolfpack swimmers representing seven countries competed in various events in the pool across eight days, seeing four medals in eight final appearances.
"We are proud of our student-athletes that competed in the World Championships in ***uoka, Japan," NC State head coach and Team USA coach
Braden Holloway said. "It is always an honorable feat to represent your country, and to do it on the world stage is spectacular. We had many finals and semi-final performances throughout the week and set a few school records during our time in Japan. Our current student-athletes and a few alumni represented NC State well, as this competition was a great setup and learning experience as we head into an Olympic year."
Leading the way was
Katharine Berkoff, who placed on the podium at the World Championships for the second straight year after taking home bronze in the women's 100 backstroke with a time of 58.25. Two days later, Berkoff finished fifth in the women's 50 backstroke with a time of 27.38.
Berkoff was a part of the mixed 4x100 medley relay team that took home a bronze medal. The Missoula, Montana native- had a 59.12 leadoff back split to help Team USA to a total time of 3:40.47.
Also taking home a medal for Team USA was NC State Swim alum Ryan Held who was a part of the men's 4x100 freestyle relay, which took home bronze in the event. Held led off the relay with a 48.16 split to help Team USA finish with a time of 3:10.81.
Closing out the World Championships was Justin Ress, who earned silver in the men's 50 backstroke with a time of 24.24. Ress had the fastest time of the semifinals in the event, clocking in at 24.23.
Representing the Netherlands was this year's ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award recipient Nyls Korstsanje. Korstsanje began the World Championships by finishing in fourth with Team Netherlands in the 4x100 medley relay final with a 50.67 fly split and a team time of 3:41.81.
In the men's 100 butterfly preliminary, Korstsanje hacked over half a second off his own Dutch record in the 100-meter butterfly, qualifying 2nd for the evening semifinals of the World Championships with a personal-best time of 50.78. The NC State standout took the race out two-tenths quicker than his previous Dutch record the fastest first 50 in the field and maintained his speed on the back half much better than last year.
Four-time NCAA champion in 2021, Sophie Hansson, represented Team Sweden and had a best finish in the women's 100 breaststroke final, where her time of 1:06.61 was good enough for seventh.
Personal bests were also broken in ***uoka, with
Andrea Podmanikova setting a new best and breaking her own national record in the process for Team Slovakia in the women's 50 breaststroke with a time of 31.43.
For Team Poland,
Kacper Stokowski finished just outside the top 10 in the men's 50 backstroke preliminaries, but his time of 24.91 was a new personal best breaking his previous time of 24.98.
Stokowski now turns his focus to participating in the World University games for Poland alongside NC State teammates Kyle Posner (USA) and
Giovanni Izzo (Italy).
RESULTS BY ATHLETEUSAKatharine BerkoffWomen's 100 Backstroke:- Prelims: Third Place - 59.04
- Semis: Third Place 58.60
- Finals: Third place - 58.25
Women's 50 Backstroke:- Prelims: Third Place 27.56
- Semis: Fourth Place 27.49
- Finals: Fifth Place 27.38
Mixed 4x100 Medley Relay- Prelims: First Place - 59.12 leadoff back split, 3:40.47
Ryan HeldMen's 4x100 Freestyle Relay- Finals: Third Place 48.16 leadoff split, 3:10.81
Men's 50 Freestyle- Prelims: Ninth Place 21.91
- Swim off Semifinal 21.68
- Finals: Fifth Place 21.72
Ross DantMen's 800 FreestyleJustin RessMen's 4x100 Freestyle- Prelims: First Place - 47.88 anchor split, 3:11.63
Men's 50 Backstroke- Prelims: First Place 24.18
- Semis: Frist Place- 24.35
- Finals: Second Place 24.24
NetherlandsNyls KorstanjeMen's 50 Butterfly- Prelims: Eighth Place- 23.19
- Semi: 12th 23.23
Mixed 4x100 Medley Relay- Prelims: Third Place 50.53 fly split, 3:40.47
- Final: Fourth Place 50.67 fly split, 3:41.81
Men's 100 Butterfly- Prelims: Second Place 50.78 (PB) Dutch Record
- Semis: Fifth Place: 50.98
- Final: Fifth Place: 51.05
SwedenSophie HanssonWomen's 100 Breaststroke- Prelims: 12th 1:06.69
- Semis: Sixth Place - 1:06.19
- Finals: Seventh Place - 1:06.61
Women's 200 Breaststroke- Prelims: 12th 2:26.01
- Semis: 13th 2:25.63
Women's 50 Breaststroke- Prelims: Eighth Place 30.39
- Semis: Ninth Place 30.40
ColumbiaSirena RoweWomen's 50 ButterflyWomen's 50 FreestylePolandKacper StokowskiMen's 100 Backstroke- Prelims: 12th 53.81
- Semis: 14th 53.96
Men's 50 Backstroke- Prelims: 10th 24.91 (PB)
- Semis: 11th 24.99
SlovakiaAndrea PodmanikovaWomen's 100 BreaststrokeMixed 4x100 Medley Relay- Prelims: 23rd 1:02.11 Fly Split, 4:01.69
Women's 50 Breaststroke- Prelims: 26th 31.43 (PB) National Record
GreeceAndreas VazaiosMen's 4x100 Freestyle Relay- Prelims: 15th 49.17 leadoff split, 3:15.86
Men's 100 ButterflyMen's 200 IMhttps://gopack.com/news/2023/8/1/swimming-wolfpack-swimmers-wrap-up-competition-from-fina-world-championships 