Minnesota Women, Indiana Men Win Night One Relays at Winter Nationals

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Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo

The first night of competition at AT&T Winter Nationals in Atlanta featured relay action only, with the 200 medley and 800 free relays on the docket. The Minnesota Golden Gopher women and Indiana Hoosier men, each without key performers, each picked up two relay wins.

Minnesota was competing without 2015 NCAA champion Kierra Smith, due to compete for Canada at the Short Course World Championships next week, but teammates Tevyn Waddell, Lindsey Horejsi, Danielle Nack and Zoe Avestruz picked up the win in the women’s 200 medley relay in 1:37.71. Indiana finished well back in second in 1:39.59, and North Carolina claimed third in 1:40.40.

The Gophers’ Brooke Zeiger, Waddell, Avestruz and Nack then won the women’s 800 free relay in 7:12.63, just edging out Indiana, whose squad of Gia Dalesandro, Stephanie Marchuk, Delaney Barnard and Holly Spears posted a 7:12.74. UNC came in at 7:15.24 for third.

Meanwhile, Blake Pieroni is also bound for next week’s Short Course World Championships, but his Indiana teammates picked up the slack in the relays without him. Bob Glover, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza and Ali Khalafalla captured the win in the 200 medley relay in 1:25.13, well ahead of Minnesota (1:27.25) and the Hoosier “B” team (1:27.39).

To complete the night, the Hoosiers’ Marwan El Kamash, Jackson Miller, Anze Tavcar and Max Irwin took home the national title in the 800 free relay, clocking 6:20.71. Indiana’s “B” team took second in 6:29.17, and UNC picked up third in 6:31.25.

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Osama Kather

7 years ago

Ali Ali Ahmed Khalafalla

Pablo Valedon

7 years ago

Go Hoosiers!!!