Swimcloud

Georgia Hosts Day One of Bulldog Invite

The Georgia swimming and diving teams hosted the Bulldog Invitational at Gabrielsen Natatorium on Saturday, with several competitors improving their stock regarding the upcoming NCAA Championships.

The meet will conclude on Sunday. The prelims will begin at 10 a.m., with finals set for 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission.

Nicole Vernon likely made the NCAA meet for the Lady Bulldogs on Saturday as she recorded a B-cut time of 4:09.37 in the 400 individual medley. She added a B cut of 1:56.43 in the 200 backstroke.

Five additional Lady Bulldogs improved their NCAA provisional qualifying times: Olivia Boggs in the 200 freestyle (1:46.37), Kimberlee John-Williams in the 100 butterfly (53.56), Anna Kolanowski in the 200 freestyle (1:46.26), Megan Kingsley in the 400 individual medley (4:11.78), and Courtney Peters in the 100 and 200 butterfly (54.44 and 1:56.83).

On the men’s side, Alec Cohen helped his cause in the 200 freestyle as he posted a B-cut time of 1:34.83.  Others with better provisional times were Mick Litherland in the 200 butterfly (1:43.68), John Mattern in the 100 breaststroke (54.78), Chris Powell in the 50 freestyle (20.16), Nick Salyers in the 100 backstroke (48.42), John Simmons in the 200 freestyle (1:37.69), and Ty Stewart in the 100 butterfly (46.77) and 100 backstroke (46.95).

Georgia’s coaches believe they have 16 females and 12 males who have made the national meets. Georgia can bring a maximum of 18 swimmers or 17 swimmers and one or two divers to the NCAAs. A swimmer at the NCAAs may enter a maximum of three individual events and compete on up to four relays. A diver may compete on all three boards once qualified.

Georgia’s divers will compete March 9-11 at the Zone B Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium in an attempt to advance to the NCAAs. The NCAAs for the women are slated for March 19-21 in Greensboro, N.C., and the men will compete March 26-28 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Highlights of the SEC Championships, where the Lady Bulldogs finished first and the Bulldogs came in second, will be shown on Monday on ESPNU. The men’s meet will air at 4 p.m., followed by the women's meet at 5:30 p.m. The shows will re-air on the SEC Network Tuesday at noon and 1:30 p.m.

 

Tennessee

The Tennessee men's and women's swim teams opened the Bulldog Invitational Saturday at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in their final chance to record NCAA qualifying times.

Tennessee clocked 16 NCAA B-cut times between the morning and final sessions, competing with schools such as Louisville, Alabama, North Carolina and NC State.

Seven swimmers on the men's teams earned B-cuts across three different events, including five in the 100-yard butterfly. Gustav Aberg Ledjstrom swam the fastest time among the Vols, setting a new career-best time in 47.24 seconds, whileJacob Thulin, Ryan Coetzee, Joshua Romany and Chris Sadsad also clocked qualifying times.

On the women's side, the Vols clocked nine individual B-cut times, led by freshman Micah Bohon and Anna DeMonte's two B-cuts each. Bohon qualified in both individual medleys, swimming career-best times in both the 200 IM (1:59.88) and 400 IM (4:15.81). Bohon surpassed Martina Moravcikova for seventh all-time in UT history in the 200 IM, while also earning seventh-place all-time in the 400 IM by passing Marina Ribi.

DeMonte earned B-cuts in both the 100 Fly (54.19) and 200 Back (1:54.38). Her 200 Back time broke her previous career best set at last year's Last Chance Invitational and moves DeMonte into a tie for third place in UT history, equaling the mark set by teammate Amanda Carner.

Senior Cherelle Thompson swam a B-cut in the 50 free for the second straight year, posting a 22.51 time in the 50 free. Freshman Alex Cleveland also swam a B-cut time of 22.79. Heather Kiger gave UT a pair of B-cuts in the 100 Fly, finishing with a time of 54.12, a new career best.

Comments