Szabo wins silver in 200 IM at ACC Championships

Stone, Ho set program records in respective events

February 22, 2018

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior Norbert Szabo claimed silver in the 200 IM on Thursday evening while teammates Ian Ho and Lane Stone turned in program records at the 2018 ACC Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

“Pleased with our day,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “Ian Ho is a Blacksburg kid who walked on and is now our fastest man ever. Lane Stone is just scratching the surface on what he is capable of. I am so proud of Norbert as he has worked so hard in and out of the pool for this breakthrough today. We are read to put forth our very best tomorrow.”

Szabo swam a B cut time of 1:42.70 in the event, marking the second fastest time in program history. He led a trio of Hokies in the 200IM as Sam Tornqvist finished 16th in 1:46.78 and Sean Workman in 23rd at 1:46.91.

The Hokies got off to a strong start in the finals as freshman Stone set a Tech record in the 500 free with a time of 4:16.80 to finish 11th overall. He breaks the old mark of 4:18.14 set by Michal Szuba in 2015. Michael Craddock added a 20th place finish in 4:19.94; the fourth quickest time in Tech history. Both were B-cut times.

Ho turned in a Virginia Tech record setting time of 19.34 in the 50 free as he finished fifth overall. He broke a record that had stood for 10 years; the 19.50 mark that was set by Kaan Tayla in 2008. It was Ho's second time breaking the record today as he swam a 19.38 in the prelim round.

David Herbert added a 14th place 19.75 (fourth in Tech history) while Harrison Pierce came in 23rd with a time of 20.05. All three hit B-cut times.

The Hokies wrapped up the evening with a fifth place finish in the 200 free relay off swims from Ho, Herbert, Pierce and Thomas Hallock with the team turning in a B cut time of 1:18.12, posting the third fastest time in Tech history.

Team Standings through eight events: NC State – 524; Florida State – 460.5; Louisville – 441; Virginia Tech – 426.5; Notre Dame – 393.5; Duke – 368; Virginia – 289.5; North Carolina – 284; Georgia Tech – 168; Pitt – 153; Miami – 94; Boston College – 66.

Tech will be back in the pool on Friday at 10 a.m. for the prelims of the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breaststroke and 100 back.

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