Somov Sets Record, Relay Wins Gold on Day 3 of ACC Championships

Louisville wins 400 Medley Relay during the 2021 ACC Men’s Swimming Championship in Greensboro, N.C. Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 (Photo by Jaylynn Nash, the ACC)

Somov Sets Record, Relay Wins Gold on Day 3 of ACC Championships

February 26, 2021 | Swimming & Diving

2021 Men's ACC championship Friday Finals Results 2021 Men's ACC Saturday Prelims Heat Sheets

Louisville moves into first after huge night in Greensboro.

By: Chandler Brandes

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The University of Louisville men showed up big on the third day of the ACC Championships in Greensboro, N.C. by collecting five medals to move into first place heading into the final day of competition.

Only 51 points separate the top three programs in what's shaping up to be a tight team race. After clinching the final relay, the Cardinals lead with 783 points followed closely by Virginia Tech (767) and NC State (732). Virginia (629), North Carolina (545), Florida State (502), Georgia Tech (478), Notre Dame (401), Pitt (266), Duke (231), Boston College (148), and Miami (120).

Nicolas Albiero kicked the night off in record-setting fashion. His time of 44.67 in the 100 butterfly was fast enough to earn him the silver medal while eclipsing his own school record of 44.83 from last season. Virginia Tech freshman Youssef Ramadan won in 44.32, breaking the ACC mark and lowering the meet standard he set in prelims.

Four Cardinals competed in the consolation final, which was won by Haridi Sameh Kamel in 45.82, pushing him to third all-time in program history. Dalton Lowe (46.40), Nikolaos Sofianidis (46.52), and Michell Whyte (46.55) finished 14th, 15th, and 16th for Louisville.

Hayden Curley was the Cards' top finisher in the 400 individual medley, finishing 13th in a time of 3:51.32. T.C. Smith cruised to 20th in 3:53.79 while Ilia Sibirtsev was right behind him in 3:53.97 for 21st. Gold went to Jack Hoagland of Notre Dame in 3:40.99.

Colton Paulson, who won the 200 freestyle last year, finished fifth tonight after stopping the clock in 1:33.94. Freshman Baturalp Unlu of Georgia Tech came out on top in 1:32.40 to set a new meet record.

Michael Eastman raced to 15th overall in the event while Kyle Worrell touched in 1:36.34 for 21st place in the first ACC final of his career.

Evgenii Somov captured his fourth-consecutive ACC title in the 100 breaststroke while posting the second-fastest time in the NCAA so far this season. His time of 51.03 broke the overall conference mark of 51.30 set by Virginia Tech's Brandon Fiala in 2017.

Somov's time also lowered his own school, pool, and meet record of 51.36 from this morning. Tanner Cummings got his hands to the wall in 53.52 for 21st place, moving to ninth all-time in UofL history.

The Cardinals grabbed two medals in the 100 backstroke in what proved to be the tightest race of the night. Albiero earned his second silver medal after finishing in 44.85, while Whyte secured bronze with a time of 45.13. NC State's Kacper Stokowski finished first in 44.82.

Sofianidis also swam in the championship heat, clocking in at 46.72 for sixth. Lowe (47.20) and Jack Wever (47.38) both competed in the consolation final, finishing 12th and 14th, respectively.

The Cardinals clinched their second-straight title in the 400 medley relay to move into first place heading into the final day of competition. The team of Whyte (45.50), Somov (50.58), Albiero (44.81), and Sameh (42.02) finished in 3:02.91, well over a second ahead of the runner-up and just off their 2020 meet record of 3:02.80.

Louisville will compete in the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and 400 freestyle relay tomorrow. Prelims will begin at 10 a.m. with finals starting at 6 p.m. inside the Greensboro Aquatic Center.