Three Days, Three Records, One Incredible Performance

When junior UNCW swimming standout Evan Arsenault arrived at UNCW three year ago, she was committed to being the best, but unsure how she would get there. She’s now become part of a lineage of Seahawk swimmers who have racked up 13 CAA Championships in the sprint events dating back to 1979-80.

At the recent 2020 CAA Championships in Christiansburg, Va., Arsenault joined the program’s elite. The Marietta, Ga., product won the 50-yard Freestyle and etched her name into the UNCW record books.

“When I came to UNCW, I told Keary (assistant coach Keary McClernan) that I wanted to be the best. She saw something in me and helped take me to this level. I've worked harder each year to get to a place I never thought I'd be, and I must thank her for believing in me from the start.

It hasn’t always been an easy path to her record-setting performance, though, Arsenault said. “I had to overcome the sheer intimidation factor that those times present when you first see them. As a freshman, you look at a time like 22.45 (the old 50 free record) and think, ‘I could never do that.’ Each year I told myself I would do it. I couldn’t get discouraged when I didn't succeed and convinced myself I could do it the next year.” 

Arsenault opened the CAA meet with the 50-yard Freestyle, an event that wound up setting the tone for her memorable performance. The event had been dominated by two-time champion by Megan Clark of Northeastern the last two years.

“After the Patriot invitational, I decided I wanted to win at conference, not take another bronze, in the 50 Free. For months before the conference meet, I visualized my perfect race. I convinced myself I could do it so much, I couldn't see it going any other way. So, when the finals of the 50 came around, I was calm and confident. I knew I had worked harder than anyone else. I just had to race.”

Arsenault opened her impressive record-setting run in the CAA meet’s championship session when she clocked a 22.34 in the 50 Freestyle, edging Clark by 0.1 seconds for the gold medal. Her time was also just .04 shy of a meet record and .05 off the conference mark.

Arsenault carried the momentum from the school-record performance to the 200-yard Freestyle the following day. While coming up short of All-CAA honors by finishing fourth with a time of 1:49.18, Arsenault did break the UNCW record that has stood since the 2010 CAA Championships when Libby Mayock posted a time of 1:49.42.

In the 100-yard Free, Arsenault decided to go all out. Flanking Arsenault was Clark and 200-yard Free champion Bonnie Zhang of William & Mary. All three led the race at one point in the prelims and Arsenault came in second. Later in the finals session, the trio again dominated, with Clark and Zhang finishing first and second and Arsenault coming in third for a bronze medal.

“For the 100, I decided I was just going to go all out. I used to have a light build pace on my first 25 so I didn't burn my legs out too soon, but I believed I had worked hard enough to build my legs up and sprint all out from the very start.”

Arsenault made it 3-for-3 in school records with a time of 48.95 in the prelims. The time eclipsed all-time great Caitlyn Kirsteier’s mark of 49.68 achieved in 2010.

With new school records and NCAA B cut times accomplished, Arsenault is setting her sights on a bigger prize next year.

“NCAA’s has always been my goal, but I knew it would take patience and a couple of years,” she reflected. If I qualify next year and am able to compete at a level like that, my career would be complete.”