Ramadan Sets 100 Fly Pool Record as Virginia Tech Downs Penn State

Virginia Tech vs. Penn State

• January 22, 2022
• Christiansburg, Virginia
• SCY dual meet
• Team scores
  • Men: Virginia Tech 196.5 Penn State 103.5
  • Women: Virginia Tech 196.5 Penn State 83
• Full results available on Meet Mobile: “VT vs Penn State”

The Virginia Tech Hokies welcomed Penn State to western Virginia for a dual meet on Saturday and both the Hokie men and women walked away with dominant victories over the Nittany Lions. 

Men’s meet recap

The clear highlight of the men’s meet was Virginia Tech sophomore All American Youssef Ramadan putting up a pair of blistering swims in both of his individual wins. In his first event, the 100 free, the Cairo, Egypt native blasted a 42.44 to win by over two full seconds. Ramadan then later returned to win the 100 fly in a new pool record of 45.34. Ramadan’s season bests sit at 41.98 in the 100 free, currently the 5th fastest time in the nation, and 44.64 in the 100 fly, the top time in the NCAA this year. 

Ramadan has been one of the NCAA’s top swimmers for each of his two seasons in Blacksburg, though he will be seeking some redemption as championship season nears. At last season’s NCAA Championships, Ramadan was DQ’d in the prelims of the men’s 100 fly, an event in which he projected to contend for the NCAA title. 

Also putting up an impressive performance for the Hokies was Ramadan’s butterfly groupmate Antani Iavanov, who won the 200 fly in a season-best 1:42.85 in his only individual race of the meet. Ivanov, a senior from Bulgaria who A finaled in both the 100 and 200 fly at last year’s NCAA Championships, holds a lifetime best in the 200 fly of 1:39.26. 

Leading the way for Penn State was senior Michael Daly, who had one victory and two runner-up finishes on Saturday. Daly’s victory came in the 200 back, where the Pearl River, New York native touched first in a season-best 1:43.71, just ahead of Virginia Tech’s Samuel Tornqvist. Daly also had a pair of runner-up finishes on the day, finishing in second in the 100 back in a season-best 47.49 and second in the 400 IM in 3:52.95. Daly’s season best in the 400 IM sits at 3:49.70 from the NC State Invite in November. 

Other individual event winners:

• 1000 free: Luis Dominguez Cologne (VT): 9:09.63
• 200 free: Carles Coll Marti (VT): 1:35.73
• 100 back: Samuel Tornqvist (VT): 46.65
• 100 breast: Daniel Raisanen (PSU): 53.69
• 50 free: Carles Coll Marti (VT): 19.82
• 200 breast: Daniel Raisanen (PSU): 1:56.83
• 500 free: Luis Dominguez Calonge (VT): 4:23.70
• 400 IM: Filippo Dal Maso (VT): 3:50.26

Women’s Meet Recap

The Virginia Tech women also dominated their northern foes, with their stout sophomore class leading the way. 

Distance swimmer Chase Travis, a native of Newark, Delaware, swept the distance freestyles on Saturday. In the 1000, Travis posted a new season best of 9:44.95 to win by over 20 seconds. Travis, who has been a member of the US National Team in the 10k Open Water, later returned to win the 500 free as well in 4:48.35. Travis’ season best in the 500 came at the Ohio State Invite, where she swam a 4:43.71. Her 1000 time now clocks in as the 13th fastest in the NCAA this season, while her 1650 from the Ohio State Invite currently checks in at 15th. 

Her sophomore classmate Emma Atkinson also impressed, sweeping the backstroke races. The Brookhaven, Pennsylvania native started her day with a win in the 100 back, touching in 52.49 to win by over 7 tenths. Atkinson later returned to win her signature event, the 200 back, in 1:52.52. Atkinson was an All American last season in both events after finishing in 11th in the 100 back and 4th in the 200 back at last year’s NCAAs. Both of her swims this weekend were season bests, eclipsing her previous marks set at the Ohio State Invite. 

Penn State’s lone event win came courtesy of senior Olivia Jack, who won the 100 breast. The Glenville, New York native touched first in 1:01.77 to win by a second and a half. The swim is a new season best for the senior and is only four tenths off of her lifetime best of 1:01.33, which came at the 2019 Big Ten Championships. 

Other individual event winners:

• 200 free: Reka Gyorgy (VT): 1:47.34
• 200 fly: Karisa Franz (VT): 1:59.90
• 50 free: Sarah Shackelford (VT): 22.74
• 100 free: Sarah Shackelford (VT): 49.47
• 200 breast: Reka Gyorgy (VT): 2:15.39
• 100 fly: Luana Alonso (VT): 53.03
• 400 IM: Reka Gyorgy (VT): 4:13.48

Virginia Tech returns to action on February 4th when they host the Virginia Tech Invite, while Penn State will wrap up their dual meet season at home against Villanova on Friday.