VIRGINIA TECH INVITE
- February 7-9, 2020
- Hosted by Virginia Tech
- Short Course Yards
- Full Results
The Virginia Tech invite came to a close on Sunday. Swimmers competed individually in the 100 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 200 fly, and 1650 free. ACC finalist Sam Tornqvist set a new Pool Record in prelims of the 200 back. His morning swim of 1:41.70 was within a second of his best and eclipsed the 6-year-old record by a second. He went on to win the final in 1:42.40. Freshman Forest Webb dropped over 2 seconds throughout the day, taking 2nd in 1:44.66. Another freshman, Brooke Travis, dropped almost 1.5 seconds in the women’s event. She hit the wall 2nd in 1:56.89, nearly catching teammate Emily Meilus (1:56.80) on the final 50.
Blake Manoff had another strong swim, winning the 200 fly in 1:42.32. That’s a few tenths shy of his best. Earlier in the meet, Manoff made a huge drop with a 1:33.68 in the 200 free on day 1 and set best times in both the 100 fly and 100 back on day 2. Another freshman, Erin Quinn, won the 200 fly in 2:02.71. Her 2:02.48 in prelims was a collegiate best and fastest since 2018.
Freshman Sarah Shackelford broke 50 for the first time in the 100 free, winning finals in 49.51. Aaron Boyd‘s 44.90 to win the men’s 100 free was his first time under 45 this season and just over a tenth away from his best time. Teammate Alex Hines swam a 44.75 in prelims, just 5 hundredths shy of a best and also his first sub-45 of the season.
Alex Wright set a new lifetime best to win the men’s mile in 15:25.62, dropping nearly 2 seconds. That’s the first time he’s swum a best in the event since 2017. Jessie Arnold won the women’s race in 17:10.40. Behind her, freshman teammate Hannah Jirsa knocked almost 14 seconds off her best time in 17:15.83.
Freshman Julia Smith set a new collegiate best in the 200 breast, posting a 2:17.01. That’s the 2nd fastest swim of her career and about half a second off her best. Maya Atkins was also half a second off her best in a new collegiate best. She was close behind in 2:17.14, her fastest time since 2017. Freshman AJ Pouch swam to a collegiate best 1:57.19 in the men’s event, his fastest time since 2018. Freshman Cobi Lopez Miro, son of Head Coach Sergio Lopez, was 2nd in a lifetime best 2:03.02.
LouLou Vos made a big drop in the 200 back time trial. She set her former best at a 2:08.96 in 2018. She swam to a 2:01.31 on Sunday, dropping nearly 8 seconds. Justin Rich went for an intermediate 50 split in the 100 free time trial. He was a tenth from his best there in 20.49.
PRESS RELEASE – VIRGINIA TECH
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s swim teams wrapped up competition on Sunday at the Virginia Tech Invite. Highlighting the day was junior Sam Tornqvist breaking the pool record in the 200 backstroke at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
Tornqvist swam a 1:41.70 in the morning prelim session of the 200 back to break the pool record of 1:42.69 set by former Tech swimmer Collin Higgins in 2014. The time also gave Tornqvist an NCAA B cut in the event.
Sarah Shackelford had a 49.89 during the morning prelims of the 100 freestyle to move onto the Virginia Tech top-10 list. In the evening she improved to a 49.51 to move into seventh on the all-time list. The time was also an NCAA B cut.
Brooke Travis also hit a top-10 time with 1:56.89 in the 200 back, moving into eighth with a B cut time.
In the men’s 200 breaststroke, AJ Pouch improved on his top-10 standings, turning in a B cut of 1:57.19. He beat his own mark of 1:57.37 set earlier this season. Alex Wright also turned in an NCAA mark, posting a 15:25.62 in the 1650 free.
The Hokies will be back in the pool for ACC Championships beginning with the women’s swim and men’s and women’s diving championships Feb. 19-22. Men’s swimming championships will be Feb. 26-29. Both events will take place at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
HOKIE TOP-3s
1650 Freestyle
W: 1st – Jessie Arnold – 17:10.40 | 2nd – Hannah Jirsa – 17:15.83
M: 1st – Alex Wright – 15:25.62 (B) | 2nd – Ethan Apisa – 16:00.43
200 Backstroke
W: 1st – Emily Meilus – 1:56.80 (B) | 2nd – Brooke Travis – 1:56.89 (B) | 3rd – Rose Pouch – 2:01.80
M: 1st – Sam Tornqvist – 1:42.40 (B) | 2nd – Forest Webb – 1:44.66 (B) | 3rd – Lane Stone – 1:47.49
100 Freestyle
W: 1st – Sarah Shackelford – 49.51 (B) | 2nd – Loulou Vos – 50.79 | 3rd – Grace Cuttrell – 51.14
M: 1st – Aaron Boyd – 44.90 | 2nd – Alex Hines – 45.21 | 3rd – Noah Desman – 45.40
200 Breaststroke
W: 1st – Julia Smith – 2:17.01 | 2nd – Maya Atkins – 2:17.14 | 3rd – Erin Scott – 2:18.03
M: 1st – AJ Pouch – 1:57.19 (B) | 2nd – Cobi Lopez Miro – 2:03.02 | 3rd – Connor Doyle – 2:04.10
200 Butterfly
W: 1st – Erin Quinn – 2:02.71
M: 1st – Blake Manoff – 1:42.32 (B) | 2nd – Antani Ivanov – 1:42.82 (B) | 3rd – Ryan Vipavetz – 1:48.84
— DAY TWO —
Hokies with top finishes on day two of Virginia Tech Invite
CHRISTIANSBURG – The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s swim teams had another strong day at the pool with several top-10 Tech times set on Saturday at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
Blake Manoff continued his strong performance during the second day of competition. He finished first in the 100 fly with a 46.18 for an NCAA B cut. In addition, the time placed him second on the Virginia Tech top-times list in the event. Later in the meet, Manoff swam a time trial of the 100 back with a time of 46.89, giving him a B cut in the event and placing him eighth on the Hokies list.
Manoff was not the only Hokie to move into the top-10 list in the 100 back today. Forest Webb finished the prelims with a 47.95 to move into ninth in the Tech record book before coming back in the evening session to improve to a 47.76 (remaining in ninth). His teammate Alex McMurry had a 47.94 in the finals to take the No. 10 spot on the list. Both Hokies were bumped down the list following Manoff’s time trial later in the meet.
On the women’s side, Loulou Vos moved into the record book with a 1:47.57 in the 200 free, giving her the sixth fastest time in program history.
Sam Tornqvist also hit an NCAA B cut for the Hokies today, finishing first in the 100 back with a time of 47.44. The Tech junior is already second on the all-time list, having swam a 46.33 last season.
The Hokies will wrap up the Virginia Tech Invite on Sunday. Prelims are set for 10 a.m. with finals at 4 p.m.
HOKIES TOP-3
400 IM
W: 3rd – Lauren Meeker – 4:29.60
M: 1st – Alex Wright – 3:54.39
100 Fly
W: 1st – Karisa Franz – 54.94 | 2nd – Molly Sheffield – 55.13 | 3rd – Julia Bruneau – 55.73
M: 1st – Blake Manoff – 46.18 (B) | 2nd – Aaron Boyd – 49.68 | 3rd – Jaedin Clark – 50.07
200 Free
W: 1st – Loulou Vos – 1:47.57 | 2nd – Erin Quinn – 1:50.79 | 3rd – Grace Cuttrell – 1:50.88
M: 1st – Antani Ivanov – 1:36.37 | 2nd – Lane Stone – 1:36.79 | 3rd – Filippo Dal Maso – 1:38.30
100 Breaststroke
W: 1st – Erin Scott – 1:02.29 | 2nd – Julia Smith – 1:03.04 | 3rd – Maya Atkins – 1:03.93
M: 1st – Cobi Lopez Miro – 55.82
100 Backstroke
W: 1st – Alex Slayton – 54.77 | 3rd – Shelby Raber – 56.88
M: 1st – Sam Tornqvist – 47.44 (B) | 2nd – Forest Webb – 47.76 (B) | 3rd – Alex McMurry – 47.94
TIME TRIALS
100 Backstroke: Blake Manoff – 46.89 (B)
— DAY ONE —
Manoff sets pool record in 200 freestyle
CHRISTIANSBURG – The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s swim teams opened the first day of the Virginia Tech Invitational in which sophomore Blake Manoff set a new pool record at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
Manoff swam a time trial of the 200 free, recording a 1:33.68 in the event. The mark set a new aquatic center record and moved him to second on the Virginia Tech record list behind teammate Lane Stone who holds the top time at 1:33.65. Manoff’s time was also an NCAA B cut.
Tech also claimed the top-three spots in all three of the men’s events and in two of the three on the women’s side.
Several B cuts were hit on both sides. For the men, Antani Ivanov had a 4:21.05 in the 500 freestyle while Sam Tornqvist hit the cut in the 200 IM with a 1:46.58. On the women’s side, Anna Landon swam a cut of 22.68 in the 50 free.
The Hokies will be back in the pool on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. with the prelims. Finals are set for 6 p.m.
HOKIES TOP-3
500 Free
W: 1st – Loulou Vos – 4:49.95 | 2nd – Jessie Arnold – 4:58.18 | 3rd – Erin Quinn – 4:58.62
M: 1st – Antani Ivanov – 4:21.05 (B) | 2nd – Alex Wright – 4:25.73 | 3rd – Lane Stone – 4:28.99
200 IM
W: 1st – Emily Meilus – 2:05.16 | 2nd – Molly Sheffield – 2:05.19
M: 1st – Sam Tornqvist – 1:46.58 (B) | 2nd – Alex Hines – 1:47.92 | 3rd – Filippo Dal Maso – 1:48.86
50 Free
W: 1st – Anna Landon – 22.63 (B) | 2nd – Sarah Shackelford – 23.10 | 3rd – Alex Slayton – 23.31
M: 1st – Aaron Boyd – 20.28 | 2nd – Justin Rich – 20.34 | 3rd – Hunter Cassady – 20.95
TIME TRIALS
200 Free – Blake Manoff – 1:33.68 (B cut / Pool Record / 2nd fastest time program history)
Looking good for the Hokies