Trio of H2Okie signees compete at USA Swimming Winter Nationals

Incoming freshmen Manoff, Myburgh and Wright represented club teams

December 7, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Three Virginia Tech men’s swimming and diving signees competed among Olympians Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at the USA Swimming Winter National Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Blake Manoff, Keith Myburgh and Alex Wright were among the nation’s best at the four-day event.

The future H₂Okies were in the pool against Olympic champions Nathan Adrian and Ryan Murphy as well as medalists Chase Kalisz and Josh Prenot.

“We are very proud of our future Hokies and their performances at US nationals,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “We are not surprised by the way they swan as we have been watching them for a long time now. We hope this inspires many other of our newcomers as most of them will be an action this weekend.”

Manoff was a strong competitor, finishing in the top-10 in all of his events. Individually, Manoff finished seventh in the in the 200 fly (1:45.74) and eighth in the 200 free (1:36.70). His time in the 200 free was the top finish for a competition in the 18 & under group. It also ranked him 21st in all-time swims in the 200 free SCY, ages 15-16. In the 200 fly event, it was the 10th best time in all-time swims SCY, ages 15-16.

On the relay side, Manoff helped his team to three top-five finishes and a sixth place. The team was fourth in the 4x50 free, fifth in both the 4x100 free and 4x200 free and placed sixth in the 4x100 medley. In the 4x100, Manoff and his teammates competed in the heat against a top-placing team consisting of Olympians Prenot, Murphy and Adrian.

Myburgh came in ninth in the 400 IM (3:48.15), placed 12th in the 200 fly (1:47.30) and was 19th in the 200 IM (1:47.74). The 200 IM event saw a trio of Olympians take the top-3 spots in Kalisz, Murphy and Prenot.

Wright claimed 18th in both the 400 IM (3:54.76) and the 200 back (1:47.97). He came in 19th in the 200 fly (1:48.27). Murphy took the top-spot in the 200 back while Kalisz finished fifth.

This trio will join the H₂Okies for the 2018-19 season.

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