NC State opens champs with new NCAA/U.S. Open relay record

INDIANAPOLIS — The North Carolina State men's swimming and diving team had a blistering start to the 2017 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships Wednesday night, taking the title in the 800 freestyle relay after dominating the race. The Championships, co-hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis and Indiana Sports Corp., will run inside the IU Natatorium through Saturday.

The team of Ryan Held, Andreas Vazaios, Justin Ress and Soren Dahl finished nearly three seconds ahead of the competition with a time of 6:06.53 to break the NCAA and U.S. Open records. The performance also breaks the ACC, pool, meet and school records.

WOLFPACK WINS! NC State dominates the 800 free relay with a new U.S. Open, NCAA, school and pool record of 6:06.53! pic.twitter.com/VmvO81DIVy

— NC State Swim / Dive (@packswimdive) March 22, 2017

This marks the second relay NC State has won historically--the first was won at last year's Championships in the 400 free relay.

Additionally, Held's lead-off split of 1:31.37 stands as a new ACC and school record in the 200 free.

RELATED: Day 1 championships recap | Results

After the first night of competition NC State leads the team standings with 40 points, Texas sits in second with 34 points and Florida rounds out the top three teams with 32 points.