2023 Minnesota First Chance Meet
- February 3-4, 2023
- Minneapolis, Minn.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: Minnesota Athletics
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota men’s and women’s swimming teams wrapped up their First Chance Meet Saturday after two days and three sessions of competition at Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.
With no team scores or diving, the weekend served as a chance for members of the team to improve on their times heading into the Big Ten championships. The Golden Gophers responded with two NCAA ‘B’ cuts, 23 personal records and 40 season-best performances after competition was completed.
The ‘B’ cuts belonged to fifth-year senior Max McHugh, whose time of 51.56 was his second fastest of the year and just .05 off his season-best mark. The other went to freshman Alberto Hernandez who swam the 400 IM for the first time in his collegiate career. His time of 3:50.26 was the third fastest on the Gophers this year.
Three Minnesota swimmers set multiple personal records on the weekend with sophomore Tommy McCarthy leading the way with four. His performances came in the 50 free (20.60), 100 back (49.82), 200 back (1:48.51) and 100 fly (48.90).
Freshmen Jack Ballard and Luke Leonidas each tallied three personal records on the weekend. Ballard did his in the 200 breast (2:00.84), 200 IM (1:48.05) and 400 IM (3:54.24), while Leonidas accomplished his in the 100 back (49.57), 200 back (1:47.49) and 200 IM (1:49.33).
Minnesota now turns its attention to the Big Ten Championships. The women are set to compete, Feb. 15-18, in Ann Arbor, Mich., while the men hit the pool the week afterward in the same location.
SwimSwam Note: Kaiser Neverman also swam a personal best time of 1:36.36 in the 200 free, improving on his previous mark of 1:38.58 set in an October tri-meet with Nebraska and South Dakota. At the 2022 Minnesota Invitational, Neverman split 1:33.64 on the 800 free relay.
Below is a listing of all the personal records and season bests set at the First Chance Meet.
NCAA ‘B’ Cuts
Alberto Hernandez – 400 IM
Max McHugh – 100 Breast
Personal Records
Olivia Bloomer – 200 Free
Rachel Butler – 500 Free
Faith Johnson – 100 Free
Brigitta Neverman – 200 Fly
Elle Niebuhr – 100 Free
Ava Yablonski – 100 Free
Jack Ballard – 200 Breast, 200 IM, 400 IM
Alberto Hernandez – 400 IM
Luke Leonidas – 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
Cameron Linder – 200 Breast
Tommy McCarthy – 50 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly
Chris Morris – 100 Back
Kaiser Neverman – 200 Free
Yash Salunke – 50 Free
Denton Smith – 500 Free
Casey Stowe – 100 Fly
Season Bests
Olivia Bloomer – 200 Free
Rachel Butler – 500 Free
Ava Gustafson – 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM
Faith Johnson – 100 Free
Brigitta Neverman – 200 Back, 200 Fly
Elle Niebuhr – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 500 Free
Summer Schmit – 500 Free
Katia Soudakova – 100 Free, 200 Free, 500 Free
Summer West – 100 Free, 500 Free
Ava Yablonski – 100 Free
Jack Ballard – 200 Breast, 200 IM, 400 IM
Isaac Barrera – 100 Fly
Alberto Hernandez – 400 IM
Drew Kistler – 200 Breast
Luke Leonidas – 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
Cameron Linder – 200 Breast
Tommy McCarthy – 50 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly
Chris Morris – 100 Back
Kaiser Neverman – 200 Free
Yash Salunke – 50 Free, 200 Fly
Denton Smith – 500 Free, 200 Fly
Casey Stowe – 100 Fly