Erika Brown Strikes Again with 49.79 in 100 Fly at Tennessee Invitational

Erika Brown; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Tennessee’s Erika Brown blasted the fastest time in the NCAA in the 100-yard butterfly. The All-American clocked a 49.79 to win the event at the Tennessee Invitational.

It was Brown’s second straight night of stellar swims after going a 21.19 in the 50 free.

She wasn’t the only Volunteer swimming fast.

Tess Cieplucha won the 400 IM in 4:03.06, going 1-2 with teammate Meghan Small (4:04.83).

Small, Brown, Cieplucha and Tjasa Pintar won the 800 free relay in 7:01.54.

The Cavaliers opened with an ACC and school record in the 200-yard medley relay. Junior Caroline Gmelich, sophomore Alexis Wenger, freshman Kate Douglass and senior Morgan Hill recorded a time of 1:33.91 for the conference standard and a first-place finish in the meet.

Douglass captured another record, after setting an ACC record in the 200-yard individual medley and a UVA record in the 50-yard freestyle yesterday. She swam a time of 50.30 in the 100-yard butterfly for a UVA record and a second-place finish at the meet. Her time ranks third in the NCAA this season.

“The teams picked up where we left off last night with some great medley relays,” Virginia coach Todd DeSorbo said. “The women flexed and threw down some amazing splits to combine for one of the fastest 200 medley relays in the NCAA history. It was a bit of a surprise for this time of the season, but we’ll take it. We had a lot of other great swims throughout the day, more NCAA qualifiers, a few program records and some fun wins. Most importantly, the team is thriving with energy and creating a phenomenal environment on the pool deck supporting each other. We have lots of smiles and are having fun. That’s how we like to be, enjoying ourselves. Looking forward to the final day tomorrow.”

Gmelich led the 100-yard backstroke, recording the top time in the event by over a second. She finished with a time of 52.21 for the first-place finish.

Junior Paige Madden led the women’s 200-yard freestyle by over a second. She recorded a time of 1:43.52, second-fastest performance in the NCAA.

Molly Hannis won the 100 breast in 57.88 ahead of Georgia’s Zoie Hartman (58.27).

In the men’s meet, Indiana’s Mohamed Samy (1:33.65) went 1-2 with Jakub Karl (1:35.45). Jacob Steele won the 100 back (46.35). Brendan Burns, Karl, Kai Bathurst and Samy won the 800 free relay (6:22.79).

Tennessee’s Matthew Garcia, Michael Houlie, Braga Verhage and Alec Connolly won the 200 medley relay in 1:24.85. Houlie won the 100 breast in 52.32.

Georgia’s Camden Murphy won the 100 fly in 45.36 to hold off Burns (46.12). Georgia’s Clayton Forde won the 400 IM in 3:42.14 to defeat Virginia’s Casey Storch (3:44.43).

Plenty of swimmers turned in top swims, but again it was Erika Brown who dominated.

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