Ohio State Invite Day 3 Finals Live Recap: Preview of Big Ten Champs in 100 FR

2021 OHIO STATE FALL INVITATIONAL

• November 18-20, 2021
• McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, Columbus, Ohio
• SCY (25 yards)
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results also on Meet Mobile: “2021 Ohio State Fall Invitational”

2021 NCAA CUT LINES

The final session of the Ohio State Invite is here, and with it we’ll see finals of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 fly, and 200 breast, along with times finals of the 1650 free and 400 free relay.

The IU men’s sprinters were out in full force this morning, as freshman Rafael Miroslaw, 5th year Bruno Blaskovic, and senior Jack Franzman took the top 3 spots this morning, all swimming under 43 seconds. Ohio State’s Ruslan Gaziev tied for 3rd with Franzman at 42.97. In the women’s 100 free, Ohio State’s Amy Fulmer will be one to watch out for, after swimming a quick prelims time of 48.52. Kentucky’s Riley Gaines and IU’s Ella Ristic, who have also been having good meets, will be in the middle of the pool with Fulmer tonight.

The women’s 200 breast will be another event to keep an eye on. Two-time NCAA All-American Noelle Peplowski (IU) led the way in prelims, swimming a 2:09.35. Right behind her was freshman teammate Brearna Crawford, touching in 2:09.51.

We’ll also get to see distance ace Mariah Denigan make her 1650 debut for the Hoosiers tonight. Denigan has been a force to be reckoned with in the women’s distance events through this fall, and tonight we’ll get to see where she’s at in the mile. U.S. Olympian Michael Brinegar (IU) is the top seed in the men’s mile, while 2021 NCAA All-American Charlie Clark is the #2 seed. This should be an exciting race, as IU senior Mikey Calvillo is in the mix, along with Fabio Dalu, who holds the NCAA DII record in the 1650.

WOMEN’S 1650 FREESTYLE

1. Maya Geringer (OSU) – 16:06.02
2. Mariah Denigan (IU) – 16:08.80
3. Chase Travis (VT) – 16:09.60
4. Maggie Wallace (IU) – 16:18.72
5. Beth McNeese (UK) – 16:23.08
6. Sally Tafuto (OSU) – 16:23.33
7. Maggie Graves (ND) – 16:23.78
8. Kaylee Williams (UK) – 16:25.71

Ohio State’s Maya Geringer won what could be described as a mini upset in this race, beating IU’s Mariah Denigan. Both women swam lifetime bests tonight, and coincidentally, both swimmers’ previous bests were from March of this year. Geringer’s 16:06.02 was a personal best by almost 6 seconds, coming in well under her 16:11.97 from last season’s NCAA Championships. Denigan broke 16:10 for the first time as well, taking a little over a second off her 16:10.05 previous best.

The pair swam very different races, with Denigan flipping at the 500 at 4:49.31, while Geringer was back at 4:58.01 at the 500. For context, that means Denigan was swimming approximately 15:55 pace on the first 500, while Geringer was swimming 16:22 pace. The final 650 yards of the race was where Geringer really got into her pace, swimming a 6:14.75. Comparatively, Denigan swam a 6:27.34 on the final 650 yards of the race.

Virginia Tech’s Chase Travis took 3rd, breaking 16:10 for the first time in 2021. Her personal best sits at 16:05.44 from the 2019 PV Senior Championships.

MEN’S 1650 FREESTYLE

1. Michael Brinegar (IU) – 14:40.23
2. Charlie Clark (OSU) – 14:42.21
3. Fabio Dalu (OSU) – 14:53.34
4. Mikey Calvillo (IU) – 14:55.95
5. Warren Briggs (IU) – 15:06.02
6. Jakob Clark (UK) – 15:12.75
7. Josh Brown (ND) – 15:15.48
8. Zane Rosely (UK) – 15:16.35

Olympic miler Michael Brinegar got the job done tonight, turning in an impressive mid-season 14:40.23 to hold off Ohio State’s Charlie Clark. The pair swam next to each other throughout the race, staying within a few tenths of a second of each other nearly the entire way. It was the final 100 where Brinegar made his move, pulling away from Clark, and ultimately getting to the wall 2 seconds ahead of Clark.

Fabio Dalu, who transferred to Ohio State from DII McKendree this past summer, came in 3rd. The move is already paying dividends, as he dropped from his previous best of 14:55.12, which stands as the NCAA DII record.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE

1. Sophie Sorenson (UK) – 1:52.18
2. Caitlin Brooks (UK) – 1:53.07
3. Anna Peplowski (IU) – 1:53.98
4. Anna Freed (IU) – 1:55.03
5. Lauren Poole (UK) – 1:55.77
6. Caroline Bentz (VT) – 1:55.92
7. Parker Herren (UK) – 1:55.95
8. Paige Hall (OSU) – 1:57.76

The Kentucky backstroke group was on display tonight, as the Wildcats went 1-2 in the event. Sophie Sorenson won the race tonight, taking 2.23 seconds off her prelims time, and swimming away with the A final. Her 1:52.18 tonight was a great mid-season swim, as her personal best stands at 1:50.94, which she swam at the 2021 SEC Championships. Caitlin Brooks, who led prelims with a 1:53.54 this morning, came in 2nd tonight with a 1:53.07. Brooks was also close to her lifetime best of 1:51.55, which she swam at last year’s mid-season invite.

IU freshman Anna Peplowski took 3rd tonight in 1:53.98, and swimming a 1:53.70 this morning. Peplowski’s swims today were a breakthrough, as she entered the meet with a personal best of 1:57.86 from the 2019 Illinois Swimming Senior Championships. Today’s swims also come after Peplowski clocked a massive personal best of 52.66 in the 100 back leading off IU’s 400 medley relay on Thursday night.

It was Indiana sophomore Anna Freed who took 4th tonight, swimming a big lifetime best of 1:55.03. Freed’s lifetime best was 1:56.62, a time which she swam at the 2021 Big Ten Championships. The emergence of Peplowski, Freed, and freshman Kacey McKenna is giving life to the IU backstroke group, which has been fairly lackluster the last several years.

Kentucky had the strongest showing in this A final easily, as Lauren Poole took 5th and Parker Herren came in 7th.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE

1. Brendan Burns (IU) – 1:40.27
2. Jacob Steele (IU) – 1:40.95
3. Marcin Goraj (PITT) – 1:42.92
4. Hunter Gubeno (CINC) – 1:44.26
5. Forest Webb (VT) – 1:44.53
6. Jackson Mussler (UK) – 1:44.98
7. Austin Lane (PITT) – 1:46.16
8. Jack Fitzpatrick (ND) – 1:46.65

IU pulled off a 1-2 punch in the 200 back, with Big Ten Champion Brendan Burns winning in 1:40.27. The swim was less than a second off his personal best of 1:39.37, which was set at last year’s Big Tens. Jacob Steele came in 2nd with a 1:40.95, which, again, is very close to his personal best of 1:40.49, which he swam at the 2021 NCAAs in March. The pair were out very close to each other, with Burns flipping at 48.80 at the 100 mark, and Steele 48.83.

Pitt sophomore Marcin Goraj clocked a massive new personal best of 1:42.92 to take 3rd. He was out close to the Hoosier duo, flipping in 49.19 at the 100 mark. Goraj’s personal best stood at 1:44.68 from the 2021 ACC Championships, marking a 1.76-seconds improvement for the sophomore.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE

1. Amy Fulmer (OSU) – 48.09
2. Riley Gaines (UK) – 48.43
3. Katherine Zenick (OSU) – 48.57
4. Ashley Turak (IU)/Teresa Ivan (OSU) – 48.96
5.  –
6. Emily Crane (OSU) – 49.37
7. Sophia Kosturos (UCLA)/Ella Ristic (IU) – 49.39
8. 8-

Ohio State’s Amy Fulmer swam a huge new personal best en route to winning the 100 free tonight. Fulmer took 0.45 seconds off her previous best of 48.44, which she swam at the 2020 Big Ten Championships. Her best time in 2021 up until today was 48.69, making tonight’s performance her fastest of the year by 0.60 seconds.

Riley Gaines was just off her personal best of 48.21, coming in 2nd with a 48.43 for her fastest time of the season.

Ohio State is looking very deep in this event, as Katherine Zenick took 3rd in a personal best of 48.57, freshman Teresa Ivan tied for 4th in 48.96, breaking 49 seconds for the first time, and Emily Crane came in 7th with a personal best of 49.37.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE

1. Youssef Ramadan (VT) – 42.32
2. Ruslan Gaziev (OSU) – 42.66
3. Rafael Miroslaw (IU) – 42.76
4. Tomer Frankel (IU) – 42.94
5. Chris Guiliano (ND) – 42.99
6. Jack Franzman (IU) – 43.00
7. Bruno Blaskovic (IU) – 43.01
8. Sem Andreis (OSU) – 43.13

It was Virginia Tech’s Youssef Ramadan who got the touch tonight, turning in an excellent November time of 42.32. With the swim, Ramadan picks up Virginia Tech’s first win of the night.

Ohio State’s Ruslan Gaziev improved upon his prelims time as well, clocking a 42.66 for 2nd, nearing his lifetime best of 42.51.

IU’s Tomer Frankel clocked a 42.94, making him the 4th Indiana swimmer to swim a 42 today. Outside of Frankel, the other 3 Hoosiers in the A final were off their prelims swims.

Another key swim in this heat was Notre Dame freshman Chris Guiliano breaking 43 seconds, taking 5th with his 42.99.

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE

1. Brearna Crawford (IU) – 2:08.40
2. Mac Looze (IU) – 2:08.64
3. Noelle Peplowski (IU) – 2:08.72
4. Bailey Bonnett (UK) – 2:09.24
5. Gillian Davey (UK) – 2:09.51
6. Josie Panitz (OSU) – 2:09.78
7. Hannah Bach (OSU) – 2:09.80
8. Bailey Herbert (UCLA) – 2:11.72

Indiana ran the table in this one, going 1-2-3 with 2:08s from all 3 swimmers. It was freshman Brearna Crawford who got to the wall first, establishing a new personal best of 2:08.40. Mac Looze was just 0.02 seconds off her personal best with her swim of 2:08.64. Looze’s best of 2:08.62 was set at the 2021 Big Ten Championships. Noelle Peplowski clocked a season best of 2:08.72 for 3rd. Crawford won the race on the final 50, splitting a very speedy 32.98, while Peplowski was 33.26, and Looze 34.18.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE

1. Josh Bottelberghe (ND) – 1:52.44
2. Josh Matheny (IU) – 1:53.03
3. Carles Coll Marti (VT) – 1:54.05
4. Cooper Van Der Laan (PITT) – 1:54.38
5. AJ Pouch (VT) – 1:55.12
6. Max Reich (IU) – 1:55.17
7. Jerry Chen (PITT) – 1:55.87
8. Jassen Yep (IU) – 1:56.35
9. Keith Myburgh (VT) – 1:56.92
10. Luke Barr (IU) – 2:00.42

Notre Dame senior Josh Bottelberghe clocked a new personal best in his winning effort tonight. The 1:52.44 chips 0.43 seconds off his previous, which he set earlier this year at the ACC Championships.

Pitt’s Jerry Chen swam a 1:55.87 for 7th, blowing his previous best of 1:57.21 away. IU sophomore Jassen Yep also swam a personal best tonight, dipping well under his previous best of 1:57.42, swimming a 1:56.35 for 8th.

IU freshman Luke Barr was way off tonight, posting a 2:00.42, after swimming a 1:57.69 in prelims. He has a personal best of 1:56.05.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY

1. Riley Gaines (UK) – 1:54.84
2. Sydney Harrington (NAVY) – 1:55.37
3. Luciana Thomas (ND) – 1:56.30
4. Izzy Gati (UK) – 1:56.58
5. Megan Deuel (ND) – 1:57.40
6. Anna Havens Rice (UK) – 1:58.81
7. Morgan Miller (VT) – 1:59.07
8. Karisa Franz (VT) – 2:00.35
9. Alyssa Graves (OSU) – 2:00.45
10. Kristyn Sabol (UK) – 2:00.70

Riley Gaines picked up her first win of the night, competing in her 2nd race of the night. Gaines was pushed by Navy’s Sydney Harrington, who led Gaines 54.61 to 55.27 at the 100 mark. Gaines was better able to maintain her speed on the back half, however, and ultimately got the touch half a second ahead of Harrington.

It was a solid showing for Kentucky, as Izzy Gati took 4th in 1:56.58, and Anna Havens Rice came in 6th with a 1:58.81.

Notably, Indiana had no swimmers in the A final.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY

Brendan Burns picked up his 2nd win of the night, swimming a season best 1:41.74. Ohio State’s Alex Quach was keeping pace with Burns through the first half of the race, but Burns maintained his pace better on the back half.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE RELAY

1. Ohio State ‘A’ – 3:14-35
2. Indiana ‘A’ – 3:14.99
3. Kentucky ‘A’ – 3:18.06

This race came down to Ohio State and Indiana, with Ohio State coming out on top, thanks in large part to Amy Fulmer’s stellar 47.32 anchor leg. Katherine Zenick led the team off in 48.74, while Teresa Ivan split 49.01 on the 2nd leg, and Emily Crane 49.28 on the 3rd leg.

IU had a very consistent relay, with all 4 of their swimmers splitting between 48.63 and 48.92. Freshman Anna Peplowski capped off an excellent meet with a huge new personal best of 48.77 to lead the Hoosiers off. Peplowski had a personal best of 50.10 heading into today, so with the swim, the 19-year-old broke not only 50 seconds, but 49 seconds as well for the first time. She was followed by Ella Ristic in 48.92, Mac Looze in 48.63, Ashley Turak in 48.67. Indiana also got a huge swim from freshman Sam Bello, who split 48.90 on the B relay. The race was Bello’s only of the entire meet and, boy, did she make the most of it. Prior to tonight, her fastest 100 of the season was a 55.03 from the IU/UK/ISU meet in October.

For IU, tonight’s relay was faster than any of last season’s. Last year, the Hoosiers topped out at 3:15.20 at NCAAs. The only swimmer who was on that relay who swam on tonight’s A relay was Ashley Turak.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE RELAY

1. Ohio State ‘A’ – 2:48.84
2. Indiana ‘A’ – 2:49.05
3. Virginia Tech ‘A’ – 2:50.67

Ohio State got the better of Indiana in a fierce battle to close out the meet, although it should be noted that the Hooisers left Bruno Blaskovic, who will likely be their fastest swimmer at the end of the season, off the relay tonight. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes got the job done, thanks in large part to big splits of 41.61 from Ruslan Gaziev, and 41.97 from Sem Andreis. Hunter Armstrong led the team off in 42.71, and freshman Alex Quach clocked a 42.55 on the 3rd leg.

As far as Indiana goes, freshman Rafael Miroslaw led them off in 42.41, establishing a new personal best in the event. Jack Franzman clocked a 42.22 on the 2nd leg, which was his fastest 100 of the day. Tomer Frankel was 42.42, and Van Mathias swam a 42.00 on the anchor.

Virginia Tech finished 3rd with a great mid-season time of 2:50.67, thanks in large part to Youssef Ramadan’s lead-off leg. Ramadan, who won the 100 free earlier in the session, threw down a huge 41.98 to get his team out to a lead.