2023 NC State Invite: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2023 NC STATE/GAC INVITATIONAL

• November 16-18, 2023
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims Finals
• Prelims start at 9:30AM Eastern, Finals at 5:30 PM Eastern
• Participating teams: #1M/#15W Arizona State, #4M/#7w NC State, #8M/#18W Virginia Tech, Army, #16W Duke
• Meet Results

The second preliminary session of the 2023 NC State Invitational will feature heats in the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast and 100 back, with plenty of stars set to be in action.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 4:03.62
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 4:11.36

Top 8: 

1. Grace Sheble (NCS), 4:09.59
2. Katherine Helms (NCS), 4:12.50
3. Yara Hierath (NCS), 4:13.77
4. Deniz Ertan (ASU), 4:13.79
5. Catherine Purnell (DUKE), 4:14.99
6. Audrey Portello (DUKE) / Sonia Vaishnani (ASU), 4:16.19
7. –
8. Chase Travis (VT), 4:17.69

NC State junior Grace Sheble led a trio of Wolfpack swimmers who occupy the top three spots in the prelims of the women’s 400 IM, with Sheble leading the field by three seconds in a time of 4:09.59.

The swim for Sheble is essentially right on what she went in the prelims of this meet last year, having gone 4:09.33 in the morning before getting down to 4:06.73 in the final. Sheble set a lifetime best of 4:04.65 in the prelims at NCAAs last season before finishing 5th in the final.

Her sophomore teammate Katherine Helms swam her fastest 400 IM since entering college to qualify 2nd into the final in 4:12.50, quicker than her fastest last season: 4:13.85. Helms owns a PB of 4:09.80 from the Potomac Valley Senior Championships in March 2022.

The third NC State swimmer making it through was senior Yara Hierath, who was within a second of her NCAA time from last season (4:12.84) in 4:13.77.

Arizona State and Duke both put a pair of swimmers into the ‘A’ final, with Sun Devil freshman Sonia Vaishnani the only one of the four hitting a new best time, chipping .04 off her month-old PB in 4:16.19.

MEN’S 400 IM – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:28.82 – Leon Marchand, Arizona State (2023)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 3:38.90
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 3:42.99

Top 8: 

1. Hubert Kos (ASU), 3:42.96
2. Leon Marchand (ASU), 3:43.12
3. Cale Martter (ASU), 3:43.84
4. Owen Lloyd (NCS), 3:43.91
5. David Schlicht (ASU), 3:44.73
6. Daniel Matheson (ASU), 3:45.59
7. Conall Monahan (NCS), 3:48.24
8. Jake Mason (ASU), 3:50.23

After scratching out of yesterday’s 500 free with an illness, defending NCAA champion and U.S. Open Record holder Leon Marchand made his first appearance of the meet in the heats of the men’s 400 IM.

Marchand was one of six Arizona State swimmers qualifying into tonight’s ‘A’ final, with teammate Hubert Kos leading the way in a time of 3:42.96, with Marchand close behind in 3:43.12.

Kos, a sophomore, sets a new season-best en route to the top seed, having logged a personal best of 3:36.86 at the 2023 NCAA Championships where he finished 4th. The Hungarian native may be best known for his upset World Championship title in the 200 back this past summer, but he’s got an impressive medley resume that includes a pair of LC European titles in the 200 IM.

Marchand cruised through to finish less than two-tenths back, with his clocking well short of his season-best 3:37.96 set in early October against UNLV.

ASU sophomore Cale Martter was just 13 one-hundredths off his lifetime best to advance 3rd in 3:43.84, with NC State’s Owen Lloyd hot on his heels in 3:43.91.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 48.46 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 50.69
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 52.20

Top 8: 

1. Abby Arens (NCS), 51.59
2. Aleyna Ozkan (DUKE), 52.18
3. Lindsay Looney (ASU), 52.87
4. Miriam Sheehan (NCS), 52.97
5. Martina Peroni (DUKE), 53.07
6. Molly Donlan (DUKE), 53.59
7. Katrina Marty (ASU), 53.66
8. Tyler Driscoll (NCS), 53.70

Abby Arens defended her top seed with ease in the women’s 100 fly as the NC State senior produced a season-best time of 51.59 to lead the field by six-tenths of a second.

Arens (23.95/27.64) out-split the field on both 50s to best her previous SB of 51.91 set in the Wolfpack’s dual against Arizona State on Oct. 20.

Last season, Arens missed the NCAA ‘A’ final by .01 in the prelims, and went on to set a PB of 50.60 in the consolation final to finish 9th in the nation.

Duke senior Aleyna Ozkan was the only other swimmer in the field to come home sub-28 (27.94), as she dropped half a second from her best time to advance 2nd in 52.18.

The swim for Ozkan puts her potentially in position to qualify for her first NCAAs individually, as she was .02 under last year’s invite time. The Turkish native represented Blue Devils at last year’s meet as a relay-only swimmer.

ASU’s Lindsay Looney rounded out the top three with her first sub-53 swim of the season in 52.87, within eight-tenths of her 52.09 PB (set at this meet last year).

MEN’S 100 FLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 42.80 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 44.64
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 45.57

Top 8: 

1. Ilya Kharun (ASU), 44.51
2. Jonny Kulow (ASU), 46.10
3. Noah Bowers (NCS), 46.28
4. Noah Henderson (NCS), 46.49
5. Mario Molla Yanes (VT), 46.61
6. Alexander Colson (ASU), 46.63
7. Arsenio Bustos (NCS), 47.01
8. Filip Senc-Samardzic (ASU), 47.21

Ilya Kharun reclaimed the ASU record in the prelims of the men’s 100 fly, also dipping under the NCAA ‘A’ cut as he blasted his way to the top time by a wide margin in 44.51.

The Canadian freshman set the program record earlier this season in 44.88, but it was stolen by Leon Marchand (44.66) earlier this month against USC.

Kharun takes it over once again with this standout swim, which ranks 2nd in the NCAA based on times entering the day.

The Sun Devil men continued to have a standout morning with four swimmers making the ‘A’ final in the 100 fly, including sophomore Jonny Kulow grabbing the #2 seed in 46.10, a new best time as he knocks off the 46.39 mark he established against UNLV in October.

NC State’s Luke Miller is the top-ranked swimmer in this event this season, but he’s opted to race the 200 free on Friday, as has the defending NCAA champion Youssef Ramadan.

Three of Miller’s Wolfpack teammates made the ‘A’ final, however, with senior Noah Bowers leading the charge in 46.28.

The swim for Bowers is just 15 one-hundredths shy of his best time set at the 2022 ACC Championships (46.13).

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10 – Missy Franklin, Cal (2015)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 1:42.84
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 1:45.31

Top 8: 

1. Lindsay Looney (ASU), 1:45.58
2. Sarah Foley (DUKE), 1:45.83
3. Ieva Maluka (ASU), 1:45.86
4. Annabel Crush (NCS), 1:46.37
5. Erin Milligan (ASU), 1:46.88
6. Madeleine Hebert (NCS), 1:46;92
7. Elli Straume (ASU), 1:47.51
8. Molly Batchelor (ASU), 1:47.62

The Bob Bowman effect continues to have a positive impact on the ASU women as the Sun Devils put five swimmers into the ‘A’ final of the 200 free, led by senior Lindsay Looney.

Looney, just minutes out of the 100 fly, came within four-tenths of her lifetime best to claim the top seed in 1:45.58, hitting the fastest back-half in the field (54.23) to show off her endurance.

Duke’s Sarah Foley qualified 2nd in 1:45.83, with her lifetime best sitting at a quick 1:43.82 from the 2022 ACCs.

ASU sophomore and Latvian native Ieva Maluka, who is coming off a big win in the 200 IM on Thursday, delivered a very solid 1:45.86 swim to advance in 3rd, with her PB of 1:45.31 having been set just last month.

NC State’s Annabel Crush was two seconds faster than she was in the prelims at this meet last year to comfortably advance in 4th in 1:46.37.

MEN’S 200 FREE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:29.15 – Dean Farris, Harvard (2019)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 1:31.74
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 1:32.85

Top 8:

1. Julian Hill (ASU), 1:33.27
2. Owen McDonald (ASU), 1:33.30
3. Tiago Behar (ASU), 1:34.02
4. Youssef Ramadan (VT), 1:34.08
5. Patrick Sammon (ASU), 1:34.14
6. Jerry Fox (NCS), 1:35.54
7. Luke Miller (NCS), 1:36.32
8. Blake Johnson (DUKE), 1:36.96

The 200 free marked another dominant showing for the Arizona State men, as they earned four of the top five seeds, with Julian Hill and Owen McDonald leading the way with a pair of blazing 1:33s.

Hill and McDonald had both already gone 1:33 this season, but dipped under their season-bests to qualify 1-2, with Hill touching in 1:33.27 and McDonald setting a lifetime best in 1:33.30.

Hill was 6th in this event at NCAAs last season, hitting a PB of 1:31.74 in the prelims.

Qualifying 3rd was another Sun Devil, Swiss junior Tiago Behar, who knocked three-tenths off his best time in 1:34.02.

Youssef Ramadan showed off his early speed, flipping with the fastest 100-yard split at 45.21 before holding on for a new best time of 1:34.08, well under his 1:35.40 from last season’s OSU Invite. Ramadan notably split 1:33.21 on Virginia Tech’s 800 free relay last season.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 55.73 – Lilly King, Indiana (2019)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 58.02
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 59.73

Top 8: 

1. Kaelyn Gridley (DUKE), 59.64
2. Zoe Summar (ASU), 1:00.29
3. Aurelie Migault (ARMY), 1:00.41
4. Catherine Belyakov (DUKE), 1:00.86
5. Kennedy Noble (NCS), 1:01.77
6. Emma Gehlert (ASU), 1:02.05
7. Aubree Brouwer (NCS), 1:02.11
8. Ginger McMahon (ASU), 1:02.35

Kaelyn Gridley was the lone swimmer to crack the 1:00 barrier in the prelims of the women’s 100 breast, as the Duke sophomore cruised through in 59.64 for a new season-best and a time better than she was at last year’s invite.

Gridley, who owns a PB of 58.76 from the 2023 NCAAs, split 58.14 on last night’s 400 medley relay, so should have more in store for the final. Her Blue Devil teammate Catherine Belyakov was within four-tenths of her PB to advance 4th (1:00.86).

Arizona State sophomore Zoe Summar set a new best time of 1:00.29 to qualify 2nd, as did Army’s Aurelie Migault, who went 1:00.41 for 3rd.

NC State’s Kennedy Noble opted for this race instead of one of her primary events, the 100 back, and it paid off as she dropped two seconds and made the ‘A’ final in 1:01.77.

MEN’S 100 BREAST – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 49.69 – Ian Finnerty, Indiana (2018)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 51.10
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 51.90

Top 8: 

1. Carles Coll Marti (VT), 52.55
2. Andy Dobrzanski (ASU), 52.68
3. John Heaphy (ASU), 52.84
4. Kohen Rankin (ARMY), 52.96
5. AJ Pouch (VT), 54.23
6. Sam Hoover (NCS), 54.26
7. Quintin McCarty (NCS), 54.62
8. Alex Edwards (ARMY), 54.79

The top four swimmers in the men’s 100 breast were well ahead of the other ‘A’ finalists, with half of tonight’s heat featuring swimmers who were in the 52s this morning and the other half all in the 54s.

Virginia Tech’s Carles Coll Marti used some early speed to produce the top time of the session in 52.55, a new season-best for the Spaniard who owns a PB of 51.50 from last season.

ASU teammates Andy Dobrzanski (52.68) and John Heaphy (52.84) qualified 2-3, with Dobrzanski just .02 off his personal best set earlier this season.

Army’s Kohen Rankin went sub-53 for the first time this season in 52.96 to round out the top four, with his best time standing at 52.36 from March 2022.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 48.26 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2023)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 50.88
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 52.36

Top 8: 

1. Katharine Berkoff (NCS), 50.03
2. Miriam Sheehan (NCS), 52.58
3. Ali Pfaff (DUKE), 52.61
4. Meghan Donald (NCS), 52.88
5. Caroline Bentz (VT), 53.35
6. Katrina Marty (ASU), 53.55
7. Cassie Moses (NCS), 53.79
8. Ashley Cusano (NCS), 53.85

Katharine Berkoff already ranked 2nd in the NCAA in 2023-24, but she improved her season-best time by eight-tenths with a very quick 50.03 prelim swim to give her the top seed for the final by two and a half seconds.

Berkoff, the 2022 NCAA champion and 2023 runner-up, ranks #2 all-time in the event and is one of two swimmers in history under the 49-second barrier (48.74 best time).

Her freshman teammate Miriam Sheehan executed an impressive double, following up her 4th seed in the 100 fly by taking 2nd here in a time of 52.58, good practice considering she’ll likely race both events in the postseason.

Sheehan was just shy of her season-best of 52.28, set in late October against ASU.

Another freshman, Duke’s Ali Pfaff rounded out the top three in 52.61, marking a new personal best as she chips .01 off her previous mark set in March.

MEN’S 100 BACK – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 43.35 – Luca Urlando, Georgia (2022)
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 44.71
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 45.70

Top 8: 

1. Hubert Kos (ASU), 44.58
2. Jack Dolan (ASU), 45.09
3. Jack Wadsworth (ASU), 46.38
4. Hudson Williams (NCS), 46.51
5. Quintin McCarty (NCS), 47.16
6. JT Ewing (NCS), 47.36
7. Ryan Weaver (NCS), 47.52
8. Youssef Ramadan (VT), 47.58

Hubert Kos matched the best time he set in last night’s medley relay en route to the top time in the men’s 100 back, firing off a time of 44.58 for the second straight day to lead the field by half a second.

Kos came into the meet with a best time of 45.99 set against USC in early November.

ASU grabbed the top three seeds, with Jack Dolan qualifying 2nd in 45.09 which is good for #3 in the country based on times entering the day. Dolan owns a PB of 44.62 from last season.

Their teammate Jack Wadsworth advanced 3rd in 46.38, not far off his PB of 46.12 from the 2023 Pac-12s.

Youssef Ramadan followed up his 200 free PB by sneaking into the ‘A’ final in 8th at 47.58, three seconds off his lifetime best of 44.58.