2022 Zippy Invite: Oakland Sets Two Program Records, Gatrall Hits 51.84 100 BK Lead-Off

2022 ZIPPY INVITE

Today marked the first full day of racing at Akron’s Zippy Invite. Today’s events included the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, and 400 medley relay. The Penn men and Akron women continue to build their leads in the team standings through tonight’s events.

Team Standings Through Day 2:

Men:

  1. Penn – 768.5
  2. Cornell – 656
  3. Oakland – 541.5
  4. Keiser – 512
  5. Clarion – 347

Women:

  1. Akron – 746
  2. Penn – 588.5
  3. Buffalo – 577
  4. Oakland – 473.5
  5. Cornell – 422
  6. Clarion – 236
  7. Keiser – 217

Women’s Recap:

The Penn women opened the night with a dominating performance in the 500 free. They took the top four spots, led by senior Anna Kalandadze. Kalandadze swam a personal best time of 4:42.45 to beat teammate Anna Moehn by almost 8 seconds (4:50.06), who also clocked a personal best. They were followed by Catherine Buroker (4:51.47) and Sydney Bergstrom (4:52.99) to round out the top four.

After breaking her own program record in the 200 fly in yesterday’s time trials (1:53.37), Oakland’s Susan LaGrand returned tonight with another record-breaking swim, this time in the 200 IM. LaGrand clocked a best time of just under half a second, going a 1:57.33 to win the event.

Akron junior Maddy Gatrall won the 50 free in yet another best time of 22.52. Her previous best was set only two weeks ago at the Magnus Cup Invite, where she clocked a 23.19. Only 0.06 hundredths behind her was Buffalo’s Toni Naccarella, who touched the wall at 22.58.

In the final event of the night, Akron’s team of Gatrall (51.84), Madeline Dyer (1:01.64), Abby Daniel (52.48), and Rachel Schiffli (49.52) combined to win the 400 medley relay with a final time of 3:35.48. Gatrall’s backstroke split was a best time by almost a second, and puts her inside the top 15 in the country so far this season.

Men’s Recap:

Keiser freshman Aaron Wilmes opened the night with a best time and new program record of 4:25.52 to win the 500. The previous record of 4:26.30 was set in 2019 by Pol Roch. Cornell senior Chris Kostelni took 2nd with a personal best time of 4:26.95.

Penn’s Matthew Fallon decisively won the 200 IM in personal best time of 1:43.63. His breaststroke split of 27.83 was the fastest of the field by over two seconds. Cornell’s Sebastian Wolff took second in a personal best time of 1:46.03.

In the 50 free, Penn’s Benjamin Feldman took first with a 19.83. Oakland’s Christian Bart was the only other athlete under the 20.0 barrier, as he took 2nd with a 19.93. Keiser’s Noel De Gues (20.06) and Alberto Garcia (20.39) picked up the 3rd and 4th spots.

Penn’s 400 medley relay team of Jack Hamilton (47.87), Fallon (51.27), Andrew Dai (46.78), and Feldman (43.48) won in a final time of 3:09.40. Oakland’s team of Marko Khotynetskyi (47.01), Bart (52.57), Sofus Balladone (47.19), and Samuel McKenzie (42.93) picked up 2nd with a new program record of 3:09.70.

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