Gabi Albiero, Kaitlyn Dobler, Will Modglin Shine on Day One of SMU Classic

Gabi Albiero -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Gabi Albiero, Kaitlyn Dobler, Will Modglin Shine on Day One of SMU Classic

The traditional early-season SMU Classic in Dallas always produces some strong starting times, and on the first day of this year’s meet, it was Louisville’s Gabi Albiero producing the top performance. Albiero, who placed third in the 50 freestyle at last year’s NCAA Championships, dominated that event against strong competition, clocking 21.75. She later won the 100 butterfly in 51.16, beating runnerup Anicka Delgago of USC by more than a second.

The Trojans’ Kaitlyn Dobler, the NCAA champion in the 100 breaststroke two seasons ago, dominated her signature event with a mark of 57.35. Dobler split 57.14 on USC’s winning 400 medley relay, with Macky Hodges, Delgado and Vasilissa Buinaia joining her to clock 3:30.90.

The powerhouse University of Texas men swam their first official meet of the season, the last for legendary coach Eddie Reese at the helm. And Will Modglin, the reigning High School Swimmer of the Year, wasted no time in making an impact as he won the 100 backstroke in 45.93, edging out Auburn veteran Nate Stoffle (46.09). Modglin also took second in the 50 free in 19.82, with Auburn’s Kalle Makinen getting the win in 19.66.

Meanwhile, there was an upset in the men’s 200 free as Louisville’s Murilo Sartori knocked off defending NCAA champion Luke Hobson of the Longhorns, 1:34.68 to 1:35.48.

Justina Kozan took the win for USC in the women’s 400 IM (4:07.60) before teammate Minna Abraham blasted a mark of 1:43.53 in the 200 free to win by almost two seconds. Kozan, Hodges, Abraham and Claire Tuggle easily won the 800 free relay in an impressive 7:02.06. Auburn’s Ellie Waldrep won the 100 back (52.63), and 3-meter diving went to Lousiville’s Elise Prassterink (297.55).

Louisville’s Denis Petrashov blasted a time of 51.95 in the men’s 100 breast, and he led his group to a medley relay win, splitting 51.62 for the 100 breast. Dalton Lowe, Petrashov, Mateo Miceli and Matias Santiso won the event in 3:07.76. The Cardinals also won the 800 free relay with Sartori, Gustavo Saldo, Santiso and Jackson Millard (6:26.95).

The host team got a win in the 400 IM as SMU’s Jack Hoagland cruised to a time of 3:45.39. USC’s Krzysztof Chmielewski edged out Auburn’s Aidan Stoffle in the 100 fly, 46.56 to 46.68, and Texas’ Nicholas Harris won on the 1-meter board (370.45).

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