The 2023 Georgia Fall Invitational kicked off from Athens, Georgia, on Thursday.
The events were the women’s and men’s 200 free relay, 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 400 medley relay as well as women’s 1-meter diving and men’s 3-meter diving.
Josh Liendo turned in the fastest time in the NCAA this season in the 50 freestyle, going an 18.61. He is the first swimmer of the season to break 19 seconds. Bella Sims also had the top time this season in the 500 free to break a 15-year-old school record.
Women’s 500 Free
A stacked 500-yard freestyle kicked off the individual races at the Georgia Fall Invitational.
Florida freshman Bella Sims won the race in 4:32.53, holding off Georgia’s Rachel Stege, who was just behind in 4:32.87. Sims’ time was the fastest in the country this year.
Georgia’s Dune Coetzee took third in 4:35.29, just ahead of Florida’s Emma Weyant (4:35.71).
Men’s 500 Free
Georgia’s Jake Magahey claimed a half-second victory in the men’s 500 free, getting to the wall in 4:10.60, dropping more than three seconds from his seed time.
Auburn’s Mason Mathias finished second in 4:11.03 to finish a second and a half ahead of Florida’s Jake Mitchell, who got to the wall in 4:12.55.
Women’s 200 IM
Florida’s Isabel Ivey dropped a half second to win the 200 IM. She got to the wall in 1:54.18 to earn the victory.
Georgia’s Zoie Hartman finished second in 1:54.49, the only other swimmer in the field to break 1:55.
Florida’s Zoe Dixon took third in 1:55.58, ahead of Auburn’s Hannah Ownbey (1:56.18).
Men’s 200 IM
Georgia Tech’s Berke Saka earned the win in the men’s 200 IM, dropping nearly three seconds to get to the wall in 1:42.19.
Michigan’s Gal Groumi finished second in 1:42.67, while Georgia’s Zach Hils took third (1:43.63).
Women’s 50 Free
Florida’s Micayla Cronk was the lone swimmer to break 22 seconds in the field and won the race in 21.97.
Michigan had the next two spots with Claire Newman taking second in 22.10 and Lindsay Flynn finishing third in 22.13.
Men’s 50 Free
Florida sophomore Josh Liendo picked up right where he left off at the NCAA Championships and used his elite speed to win the 50 in 18.61. His time is the fastest in the NCAA this season and the first swimmer to break 19 seconds this year.
He led a 1-2 Florida finish with Macguire McDuff taking second in 19.28.
Georgia’s Dillon Downing finished third in 19.31, just ahead of Michigan’s Bence Szabados (19.33).
Women’s 400 medley relay
Florida’s Bella Sims, Molly Mayne, Olivia Peoples and Isabel Ivey won the medley relay in 3:28.68.
Auburn took second in 3:31.24 behind Kensley Merritt, Hannah Ownbey, Meghan Lee and Polina Nevmovenko.
Florida State’s Sarah Evans, Maddy Huggins, Edith Jernstedt and Gloria Muzito took third (3:32.24).
Men’s 400 medley relay
Florida ended the day with a quick race in the men’s medley with Adam Chaney, Aleksas Savicaks, Josh Liendo and Macguire McDuff winning in 3:02.68.
Auburn’s Nathaniel Stoffle, Henry Bethel, Sohib Khaled and Kalle Makinen took second in 3:04.48.
Georgia’s Ruard Van Renen, Connor Haigh, Bradley Dunham and Reese Branzell took third in 3:05.57.
