Gretchen Walsh Blasts Sizzling Relay Split, Youssef Ramadan Shines as Virginia, Virginia Tech Split Dual Meets
Several top swimmers from the University of Virginia made the trip northeast on I-81 from the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tenn., to race against in-state rival Virginia Tech in Christiansburg. The Cavaliers, who had Gretchen Walsh available for the meet but not older sister Alex Walsh, dominated the women’s meet by a final margin of 209 to 91, but the Hokie men, led by reigning NCAA champion Youssef Ramadan, came out on top 191-108.
Fresh off an impressive win in the 100-meter butterfly Friday evening in Knoxville, where she clocked 56.78 to hold off Olympic gold medalist Maggie Mac Neil, the younger Walsh sister swam the second leg of her team’s 200 medley relay. Swimming for UVA’s “B” team, Walsh entered the water more than a second behind before splitting 21.92 to move into the lead. Her split was the second-quickest ever, behind only a 21.85 from Mac Neil, and quicker than former teammate Kate Douglass ever split on the collegiate level.
Walsh joined Izzy Bradley, Zoe Skirboll and Aimee Canny to get the relay win in 1:37.57. Walsh swam only once more Saturday, making a rare appearance in the 100 breaststroke, and she got the win in 59.75, beating out breaststroke-specializing teammates Skirboll (1:00.27) and Emma Weber (1:00.57).
Meanwhile, Jasmine Nocentini took care of business in both sprint freestyle events, topping the 50 free (21.87) and 100 free (48.40), and Sophia Knapp claimed the 1000 (9:58.58) and 500 free (4:51.37). Carly Novelline won the 100 backstroke (53.97) and 100 butterfly (54.09). Cavan Gormsen led the way in the 200 free (1:46.96), and Maggie Schalow grabbed first in the 200 fly (1:59.84).
Other Virginia winners included Weber in the 200 breast (2:14.42) and Canny in the 200 IM (1:58.12) plus Elizabeth Kaye in both diving events, 1-meter (317.40) and 3-meter (345.00). Nocentini, Novelline, Tess Howley and Gormsen swam a time of 3:17.92 for a 400 free relay win.
The only Virginia Tech women’s win came in the 200 back, when Caroline Bentz touched first in 1:56.71 and teammate Emma Atkinson came in second at 1:57.29.
For the men, a huge day from Ramadan saw the native of Egypt finish first comfortably the 100 back (47.16), 100 free (43.12) and 100 fly (47.18). The team of Ramadan, Carles Coll Marti, Mario Molla Yanes and Brendan Whitfield finished first in the 200 medley relay in 1:25.09. Also winning twice for the Hokies was Nico Garcia, who came in first in the 1000 free (9:15.50) and 200 back (1:45.76).
Whitfield won the 200 free in 1:37.18, and AJ Pouch topped the 200 breast in 1:55.56, with Lee Naber coming in first in the 500 free (4:30.37). Carles Coll Marti used a strong breaststroke to earn the win in the 200 IM (1:46.34). Virginia Tech also got a pair of diving wins, from Sean Binning (1-meter, 308.18) and Jacob Fisher (3-meter, 381.15). To conclude the meet, Whitfield, Luis Dominguez Calonge, William Hayon and Molla Yanes finished three-and-a-half seconds clear of the fastest Virginia squad in the 400 free relay, clocking 2:54.80.
Virginia’s first win came in the 100 breast as Noah Nichols clocked 52.91 to defeat Hokies Coll Marti and Pouch. Teammate Sebastien Sergile clocked 1:46.25 for the win in the 200 fly, with Matt Brownstead following with a 19.64 for first place in the 50 free.