Continuous excellence is a theme for NC State swimming and diving. Its ninth-place finish at the women’s NCAA championships marked seven top-10s in a row, and nine top-10s in the last 10 championships.

This time around, freshman Eneli Jefimova’s national title in the 100 breaststroke stole the show. Setting a pool record and breaking NC State’s own record, Jefimova clocked in at 56.30 in the A-final. That was not only the title-winning pace this year, but the fourth-fastest 100-yard breaststroke in NCAA history.

On the same day, the Pack’s 200 freestyle relay squad finished eighth for All-American honors. Graduate student Olivia Nel, senior Cassie Moses and sophomores Erika Pelaez and Lily Christianson finished in 1:26.45. Christianson led off with the fourth-fastest 50 freestyle in NC State history, 21.68.

On Day 1, the 200 medley relay earned the Pack some more scoring points. Pelaez and Nel were joined by Jefimova and sophomore Leah Shackley. That squad rose to the moment, delivering the fastest time on the season at 1:33.05. In the event, that was good for fifth-place, and in NC State history, good for third-fastest ever.

Pelaez and Shackley returned on the third day of competition to claim more honors in the 100 backstroke. Shackley placed sixth in the final with a personal-best 49.98, while Pelaez was just ahead in fourth-place at 49.95. Pelaez earned All-American honors, while Shackley can go home with the third-fastest time in NC State history.

Pelaez and Shackley showed out in the 200 backstroke too, reaching the podium together as they did last year. Shackley’s 1:49.74 earned seventh-place, while Pelaez took home a bronze medal at 1:49.08.

Senior Kennedy Noble also placed 15th in the backstroke and earned second-team All-American honors, making four All-American honors in a row for Noble in the backstroke. Noble also placed ninth in the 200 backstroke, earning second-team All-American honors. In those events, Noble earned her 11th and 12th career All-American honors.

Relays continued to be a strength for the Pack later that night when Shackley, Jefimova, Pelaez and Nel swam in the 400 medley relay. Their finish of 3:24.49 was good for fourth-place, and also the second-fastest time in NC State history.

Christianson kept up the level of performance she set in the 200 freestyle relay in the 50 freestyle. Her personal-best 21.56 in the preliminaries moved her up to the third-fastest time in program history. She also earned second-team All-American honors in the event.

In the 400 freestyle, a team of Nel, Pelaez, Christianson and junior Tyler Driscoll placed ninth with a time of 3:09.71. With ninth-place came more second-team All-American honors, and the fastest time in NC State history.

Next up for the program is the NCAA men’s championships, held at McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia from March 25-28.