Photo by: Ariel Fox
Relays Shine In Day One Action With Nebraska
Jan 27 | Women's Swimming & Diving
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women's swimming & diving team holds a 101-66 lead on Nebraska after the first day of competition on Friday night at the Rutgers Aquatics Center.
100 Free
1. Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova – 49.63
2. Giulia Ghidini – 51.09
500 Free
2. Madison Murtagh – 4:45.72
200 Back
1. Valeria Egorova – 1:57.62
2. Alice Scarabelli – 1:58.03
3. Martyna Piesko – 1:59.52
200 Breast
2. Tina Celik – 2:14.83
3. Rachel Kimmel – 2:14.91
200 Fly
1. Sofia Chichaikina – 1:57.68
200 IM
2. Rachel Kimmel – 2:03.27
200 Free Relay
1. Rutgers A (Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova, Alice Scarabelli, Martyna Piesko, Sofia Chichaikina) – 1:31.65
3. Rutgers B (Valeria Egorova, Julia Bartoszewicz, Jillian Ruffner, Giulia Ghidini) – 1:35.65
200 Medley Relay
1. Rutgers A (Alice Scarabelli, Rachel Kimmel, Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova, Sofia Chichaikina) – 1:39.32
3. Rutgers B (Martyna Piesko, Tina Celik, Ellie Schinsky, Giulia Ghidini) – 1:42.33
1M Dive
1. Giulia Vittorioso – 280.05
2. Holly Prasanto – 273.45
Follow Rutgers women's swimming & diving on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
| FROM THE POOL DECK |
- The Scarlet Knights relays put in a pair of notable performances as the 200 medley relay started the night tying the Rutgers Aquatics Center Pool record and the 200 free relay ended the evening with a new pool benchmark.
- Additionally, junior Tina Celik moved up to fifth all-time in the 200 breast and freshman Valeria Egorova captured the seventh-fastest time in the 200 back.
- On the boards, Giulia Vittorioso was victorious on 1-meter.
| RELAYS |
- The meet opened with Alice Scarabelli, Rachel Kimmel, Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova and Sofia Chichaikina tying the 200 medley relay pool record topping the competition with a time of 1:39.32. The same quartet set the record back on Nov. 12 in the annual Battle For the Cannon Trophy with Princeton.
- Closing day one action was Maksimova, Alice Scarabelli, Martyna Piesko and Chichaikina coming in with a top time of 1:31.65 in the 200 free relay for a new Rutgers Aquatics Center record. The time bested the previous record of 1:31.75 set by Elinah Phillip, Giulia Ghidini, Chichaikina and Clare Lawlor on Nov. 15, 2019 against Princeton.
| SPRINTS |
- Tina Celik moved up five positions on the all-time 200 breast list into fifth in a tight finish. She claimed the runner-up position in 2:14.83 dropping from her previous best of 2:16.86 from last season's Big Al Invitational. Rachel Kimmel, meanwhile, took third in 2:14.91.
- Valeria Egorova, who last week posted the ninth fastest time in the 100 back against Villanova, joined the top 10 list in the 200 back against the Huskers. The Scarlet Knight newcomer won the event in 1:57.62 for the seventh fastest time on record leading a 1-2-3 finish for Rutgers. Alice Scarabelli took second in 1:58.03 and Martyna Piesko logged 1:59.52 for third.
- Rutgers took the top two spots in the 100 free with first place going to Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova in 49.63 with Giulia Ghidini next to hit the wall in 51.09. Both times were season bests.
- Sofia Chichaikina raced to a season-best 1:57.68 to win the 200 fly.
- Kimmel also registered a second-place finish in the 200 IM.
| DISTANCE |
- Madison Murtagh was the runner-up in the 500 free and was one second off her season best clocking in at 4:45.72.
| DIVING |
- Giulia Vittorioso won 1-meter scoring 280.05 for her second 1-meter crown of the season. Holly Prasanto was the runner-up with a score of 273.45.
| NEBRASKA RESULTS - DAY ONE |
100 Free
1. Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova – 49.63
2. Giulia Ghidini – 51.09
500 Free
2. Madison Murtagh – 4:45.72
200 Back
1. Valeria Egorova – 1:57.62
2. Alice Scarabelli – 1:58.03
3. Martyna Piesko – 1:59.52
200 Breast
2. Tina Celik – 2:14.83
3. Rachel Kimmel – 2:14.91
200 Fly
1. Sofia Chichaikina – 1:57.68
200 IM
2. Rachel Kimmel – 2:03.27
200 Free Relay
1. Rutgers A (Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova, Alice Scarabelli, Martyna Piesko, Sofia Chichaikina) – 1:31.65
3. Rutgers B (Valeria Egorova, Julia Bartoszewicz, Jillian Ruffner, Giulia Ghidini) – 1:35.65
200 Medley Relay
1. Rutgers A (Alice Scarabelli, Rachel Kimmel, Sofia (Lobova) Maksimova, Sofia Chichaikina) – 1:39.32
3. Rutgers B (Martyna Piesko, Tina Celik, Ellie Schinsky, Giulia Ghidini) – 1:42.33
1M Dive
1. Giulia Vittorioso – 280.05
2. Holly Prasanto – 273.45
| UP NEXT |
- Rutgers swimming & diving will honor its seniors prior to day two with the Huskers on Saturday with the ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. Competition will begin at 10 a.m.
- Admission to the Rutgers Aquatics Center is free.
- Saturday's action will be streamed live on B1G +.
Follow Rutgers women's swimming & diving on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- RU -
Players Mentioned
Rutgers Athletics Launches the Athletic Excellence Fund
Monday, October 06
R Fund, Knights of the Raritan are YouKnighted | Million Dollar Match
Friday, February 28
Rutgers x Nike Apparel Partnership
Thursday, December 19
Rutgers Athletics 2023-24 Year in Review
Friday, July 12



























