NC State Wolfpack break ACC record in men's 400 free relay

NC State's quartet of Winkler, McCarty, Fox, and Williams combined for a 2:43.53 to take down the previous ACC record.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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On the final day of the 2026 ACC Championships, the NC State men's 400 freestyle relay team of Kaii Winkler, Quintin McCarty, Jerry Fox, and Hudson Williams broke the ACC record with a time of 2:43.53. The previous ACC record of 2:44.31 was set by NC State in 2018. Florida State finished second with a time of 2:47.29, while Stanford and Virginia tied for third with a 2:47.51.

Why it matters

The NC State men's 400 freestyle relay team's record-breaking performance capped off an impressive showing for the Wolfpack at the 2026 ACC Championships. NC State's depth and talent in the freestyle events was on full display, as they were able to take down a longstanding ACC record that had stood for nearly a decade.

The details

Kaii Winkler led off the record-breaking relay with a 41.40, followed by Quintin McCarty (40.37), Jerry Fox (40.87), and Hudson Williams (40.89). Their combined time of 2:43.53 was over .78 seconds faster than the previous ACC record of 2:44.31 set by NC State in 2018. Florida State finished second with a time of 2:47.29, while Stanford and Virginia tied for third with a 2:47.51.

  • The previous ACC record of 2:44.31 was set by NC State in 2018.

The players

NC State

The NC State men's swimming and diving team, which broke the ACC record in the 400 freestyle relay.

Kaii Winkler

The lead-off swimmer for the record-breaking NC State 400 freestyle relay team, splitting 41.40.

Quintin McCarty

The second swimmer for the record-breaking NC State 400 freestyle relay team, splitting 40.37.

Jerry Fox

The third swimmer for the record-breaking NC State 400 freestyle relay team, splitting 40.87.

Hudson Williams

The anchor swimmer for the record-breaking NC State 400 freestyle relay team, splitting 40.89.

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The takeaway

NC State's dominant performance in the men's 400 freestyle relay showcased the team's depth and talent in the freestyle events, as they were able to take down a longstanding ACC record that had stood for nearly a decade. This record-breaking swim capped off an impressive showing for the Wolfpack at the 2026 ACC Championships.