{"id":575942,"date":"2024-01-13T15:58:05","date_gmt":"2024-01-13T22:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=575942"},"modified":"2024-01-13T15:58:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T22:58:05","slug":"gretchen-walsh-blasts-sizzling-relay-split-youssef-ramadan-shines-as-virginia-virginia-tech-split-dual-meets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/gretchen-walsh-blasts-sizzling-relay-split-youssef-ramadan-shines-as-virginia-virginia-tech-split-dual-meets\/","title":{"rendered":"Gretchen Walsh Blasts Sizzling Relay Split, Youssef Ramadan Shines as Virginia, Virginia Tech Split Dual Meets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gretchen Walsh Blasts Sizzling Relay Split, Youssef Ramadan Shines as Virginia, Virginia Tech Split Dual Meets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Several top swimmers from the University of Virginia made the trip northeast on I-81 from the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tenn., to race against in-state rival Virginia Tech in Christiansburg. The Cavaliers, who had\u00a0Gretchen Walsh<\/strong> available for the meet but not older sister\u00a0Alex Walsh<\/strong>, dominated the women’s meet by a final margin of 209 to 91, but the Hokie men, led by reigning NCAA champion\u00a0Youssef Ramadan<\/strong>, came out on top 191-108.<\/p>\n

Fresh off an impressive win in the 100-meter butterfly Friday evening in Knoxville<\/a>, where she clocked 56.78 to hold off Olympic gold medalist Maggie Mac Neil<\/strong>, the younger Walsh sister swam the second leg of her team’s 200 medley relay. Swimming for UVA’s “B” team, Walsh entered the water more than a second behind before splitting 21.92 to move into the lead. Her split was the second-quickest ever, behind only a 21.85 from Mac Neil, and quicker than former teammate\u00a0Kate Douglass<\/strong> ever split on the collegiate level.<\/p>\n

Walsh joined Izzy Bradley<\/strong>,\u00a0Zoe Skirboll<\/strong> and\u00a0Aimee Canny<\/strong> to get the relay win in 1:37.57. Walsh swam only once more Saturday, making a rare appearance in the 100 breaststroke, and she got the win in 59.75, beating out breaststroke-specializing teammates Skirboll (1:00.27) and Emma Weber<\/strong> (1:00.57).<\/p>\n

Meanwhile,\u00a0Jasmine Nocentini<\/strong> took care of business in both sprint freestyle events, topping the 50 free (21.87) and 100 free (48.40), and\u00a0Sophia Knapp<\/strong> claimed the 1000 (9:58.58) and 500 free (4:51.37). Carly Novelline<\/strong> won the 100 backstroke (53.97) and 100 butterfly (54.09). Cavan Gormsen<\/strong> led the way in the 200 free (1:46.96), and\u00a0Maggie Schalow<\/strong> grabbed first in the 200 fly (1:59.84).<\/p>\n

Other Virginia winners included Weber in the 200 breast (2:14.42) and Canny in the 200 IM (1:58.12) plus Elizabeth Kaye<\/strong> in both diving events, 1-meter (317.40) and 3-meter (345.00). Nocentini, Novelline,\u00a0Tess Howley<\/strong> and Gormsen swam a time of 3:17.92 for a 400 free relay win.<\/p>\n

The only Virginia Tech women’s win came in the 200 back, when\u00a0Caroline Bentz<\/strong> touched first in 1:56.71 and teammate\u00a0Emma Atkinson<\/strong> came in second at 1:57.29.<\/p>\n