Kentucky Women, Louisville Men Emerge Victorious in Bluegrass State Showdown
The Louisville Cardinals were in Lexington, Ky., Saturday for an in-state dual meet against their biggest rival, and the Wildcat women knocked off Louisville by a 168-132 margin. Beth McNeese and diver Kyndal Knight were the stars for Kentucky as they both won two individual events in the win. Meanwhile, Louisville’s men won 200-96 behind Dalton Lowe and Denis Petrashov.
Kentucky’s McNeese won the 1000 freestyle in 9:39.54, and she added another win in the 500 free in 4:42.39. Knight won 1-meter (268.73) and 3-meter (342.45) diving. In the 200 free, Kentucky went 1-2 with Kaitlynn Wheeler winning in 1:45.34 and Izzy Gati finishing a close second (1:45.40). Caitlin Brooks led the way in the 100 backstroke in 52.09, and Kentucky ended up finishing 1-2-3-4 in that event as well as in the 100 breaststroke, where Denise Phelan won in 1:00.29.
Lydia Hanlon won the 200 back for Kentucky in 1:52.16, and Bridget Engel took the 200 breast (2:09.37). The final women’s individual event of the day, the 200 IM, went to the Wildcats’ Lauren Poole in 1:57.65.
Louisville kept it close thanks to a banner effort from Gabi Albiero, who won the 50 free (21.89), 100 free (47.99) and 100 butterfly (51.66). The Cardinals’ Abby Hay crushed the field in the 200 fly (1:55.23). Hay, Cecilia Viberg, Christina Regenauer and Albiero won the 200 medley relay in 1:36.14, and Louisville also won the 400 free relay in 3:15.72 with Regenauer, Ella Welch, Julia Dennis and Tristen Ulett.
The Louisville men stormed to a big win with Lowe winning the 100 back (46.92) and 100 fly (46.64) and Petrashov sweeping the 100 breast (52.76) and 200 breast (1:54.68). Murilo Sartori claimed the win in the 200 free (1:34.56), and Abdelrahman El-Araby won the 50 free in 19.47 before Michael Eastman grabbed first in the 100 free (42.93). In diving, Adam Sneden won 3-meter (319.73) and Che Stephens took first on 1-meter (301.88).
In relays, Charlie Crush, Petrashov, Lowe and El-Araby topped the 200 medley relay in 1:25.18, and El-Araby, Sartori, Lowe and Eastman cruised to a 3.7-second win in the 400 free relay in 2:52.05.
Mason Wilby had a huge day for Kentucky with wins in the 200 fly (1:42.26), 200 back (1:42.79) and 200 IM (1:46.23), while Nick Caruso won the 1000 free (8:53.74) and 500 free (4:20.53).