Michigan’s Near-A Cut In 400 Medley Relay Highlights Night One of Michigan Open

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, November 22. DAY one of the University of Michigan Open got underway this evening, and has already turned into a tight duel between the Wolverines and Louisville Cardinals. Highlighting the first evening of racing was a near-A cut by the Michigan men’s 400 medley relay, which is also the fastest time in the country this year.

Michigan started off its home invitational on a good note, as the foursome of Julia Salem, Zoe Mattingly, Molly Schaefer and Alexandra Deloof posted a 1:31.62 to win the opening 200 free relay. The Louisville A relay finished in 1:32.91 for second, followed by the B relay in 1:34.54.

Louisville followed that up with a 1-2 punch in the women’s 500 free. Abigail Houck, who this morning shaved 10 seconds off her seed time, dropped another half a second to win in 4:45.34. Teammate Abigail Chin dropped eight seconds from her prelim time to take second in 4:47.69, just ahead of former Michigan swimmer and current USA Swimming national team member Emily Brunemann (4:48.05).

In the 200 IM, Louisville made it another 1-2 sweep, as Tanja Kyllianinen posted her second sub-2:00 swim of the day to win in 1:59.68, two seconds ahead of her teammate Andrea Cottrell (2:01.63). Michigan’s Briana Jurries slipped in for third at 2:02.33.

The women’s 50 free final heat consisted of only Louisville and Michigan swimmers, and the Cardinals took full advantage by sweeping the top three spots. Rachael Lewis took first in 23.25, with Mary Mittel (23.46) in second and Johanna Cowley in third (23.64).

Michigan wrapped up the evening with a win in the 400 medley relay as Alexandra Deloof, Angela Chokran, Briana Jurries and Zoe Mattingly posted a 3:38.31 to beat Louisville’s A (3:39.29) and B (3:47.66) teams.

On the men’s side, Louisville kicked off the night with a relatively easy win in the 200 free relay. Rudy Edelen, Aaron Young, Pedro Coutinho and Trevor Carroll posted a 1:20.98 to outdistance Michigan’s B and C squads. The Michigan A relay was disqualified, but would have posted the fastest time.

The Wolverines rebounded in the next event, however, going 1-2-3-4 in the men’s 500. Dylan Bosch led the way in 4:22.55, while Anders Neilsen took second in 4:24.48. Kyle Whitaker picked up third in 4:27.18.

Louisville then picked up the top two places in the men’s 200 IM. Evan Noble got to the wall first with a 1:47.81, comfortably ahead of teammate David Boland, who touched in 1:48.70. Miguel Ortiz, representing Club Wolverine, took third in 1:48.97.

In a meet that has thus far looked more like a dual meet between Michigan and Louisville, a swimmer from neither team won the men’s 50. Twenty-five year-old Zachary Hayden, swimming unattached, got his hand on the wall first in 20.27, slightly off his morning swim of 20.14. Michigan’s Vincent Tafuto (20.38) and Louisville’s Rudy Edelen (20.69) rounded out the top three.

Michigan appeared to have saved its best for last tonight, as the quartet of John Wojciechowski, Richard Funk, Dylan Bosch and Bruno Ortiz just missed the A cut of 3:10.26 in the men’s 400 medley relay with a 3:10.89. That time is the fastest in the country this year by nearly a second and a half, as Minnesota swam a 3:12.22 last weekend at the Grand Prix. Louisville’s A (3:15.62) and B teams (3:16.27) finished second and third

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