Cardinals Complete First Day of Louisville Invitational

Saturday, February 10

Louisville, Ky.

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Louisville Invitational

Cardinals Complete First Day of Louisville Invitational

February 10, 2018 | Swimming & Diving

The Cardinals recorded 14 NCAA 'B' cut times.

By: Kylie Klotzbach

The University of Louisville men's and women's swimming teams kicked off the postseason on Saturday, earning a collective 14 NCAA 'B' cuts on the opening day of the UofL Invitational.

"I'm proud of our energy today," said head coach Arthur Albiero. "I loved the way we raced today, we had a number of lifetime bests. I think it was a very positive day, and the team energy will be very important as we go into championship mode."

The 'A' 200 free relay team of Andrej Barna (19.60), Matyi Kovacs (19.62), Zach Harting (19.62), and Nicolas Albiero (19.32) earned an NCAA 'B' cut time of 1:18.19 to kick off the morning's preliminaries. At finals, Abel Aulbach (20.63), Derek Sander (20.66), Jacob DeMercurio (20.11), and Carlos Claverie (24.54) combined for a time of 1:25.94.

Four Cardinals competed in the morning session of the women's 200 IM, led by Lauren James who finished first with a 2:03.56. Carley Lowe touched just behind with a 2:04.28, while Rachel Howard posted a 2:09.57 and Paige Ezell recorded a 2:13.87.

In the finals of the men's 200 IM, Evgenii Somov secured an NCAA 'B' cut with a 1:48.14. Chase Sellers improved on his time from the prelims, putting up a 1:49.59. Keegan Foulke also grabbed an NCAA 'B' cut in the preliminary session, stopping the clock in a time of 1:48.75.

Alina Jungklaus dropped nearly seven seconds from her morning swim in the finals of the 500 free with a time of 5:02.88, while Spencer Carl finished the men's event with a time of 4:28.10.

Silvia Guerra earned the first NCAA 'B' cut for the Louisville women with a 1:01.51 in the 100 breast. Rachel Howard (1:02.60) and Caitlin Ahern (1:02.86) finished right behind in second and third. Morgan Friesen also added another 'B' cut for the Cardinals with a time of 1:01.82 in the preliminary session.

Evgenii Somov posted the Cardinals' top time of the day in the morning session of the 100 breast with an NCAA 'B' cut time of 54.25. Todd Owen dropped nearly a second in finals with a time of 55.84, while Jonathan Zoucha registered a time of 56.60.

The top time in the 200 back also came from the preliminary session as Nikkos Sofianidis powered to the finish with a NCAA 'B' cut time of 1:43.88. Chase Sellers touched the wall in a time of 1:49.65.

In the women's 100 free, Rachel Grooms set a new UofL Invitational meet record and earned an NCAA 'B' cut with a time of 49.58.

Moments later, Andrej Barna set the meet record in the men's 100 free with a time of 43.57, an NCAA 'B' standard. Matyi Kovacs touched second with a 44.36, followed by Sam Steele (44.57), Abel Aulbach (45.04), and Derek Sander (45.96).

In the finals of the 200 fly, Hannah Magnuson lowered her time from the morning session with a 1:59.65. Paige Ezell stopped the clock in a 2:09.80.

Two Cardinals achieved NCAA 'B' cut times in the prelims of the 200 fly. Nicolas Albiero touched first with a 1:43.81, while Zach Harting touched second in a 1:44.76. At finals, T.C. Smith touched first with a 1:49.43, followed by Spencer Carl (1:50.78).

Time trials were held at the conclusion of each session, where the Cardinals achieved three additional NCAA 'B' cuts. In the 400 IM, Etay Gurevich surpassed the 'B' standard by nearly seven seconds, posting a time of 3:47.54. Jarrett Jones also surpassed the mark with a time of 3:51.48. The 200 medley relay team of Nicolas Albiero (21.73), Carlos Claverie (23.80), Zach Harting (20.85), and Andrej Barna (19.16) also earned a cut with a 1:25.54.

The second and final day of the UofL Invitational 1st Chance Meet will begin with tomorrow morning's preliminaries at 10 a.m., followed by finals at 5 p.m.