During the second of three nights at the Georgia Tech Invitational, Alabama senior Robert Howard and Florida State senior Natalie Pierce each posted impressive mid-season times.
In the women’s team race, Auburn led after two nights with 778.5 points, while in-state rival Alabama was second at 703. The Georgia Tech ladies were third at 616.
On the men’s side, Florida State continues to lead with 1073 points with Alabama well behind in 843. The South Carolina men currently sit third at 536.
Alabama’s team of Katie Kelsoe, Justine Macfarlane, Flora Molnar and Bailey Scott won the night’s first event, the women’s 200 medley relay, in 1:37.55. Auburn’s Alyssa Tetzloff, Breanna Roman, Haley Black and Ashton Ellzey took second in 1:38.61, and Georgia Tech’s Megan Young, Florina Ilie, Laura Branton and Iris Wang took third in 1:39.93.
The Alabama men were also victorious in their 200 medley relay, with Luke Kaliszak, Laurent Bams, Zane Waddell and Howard finishing in 1:24.60. Florida State’s Connor Kalisz, Kanoa Kaleoaloha, Will Pisani and Chad Mylin came in one second behind at 1:25.95. Third went to South Carolina’s Will Countie, Nils Wich-Glasen, Justin Rose and Patrick McCrillis in 1:27.80.
South Carolina’s Emma Barksdale, the winner of the 200 IM Thursday night, added a win in the 400 IM for the women with her time of 4:08.20. Alabama’s Alina Faunce took second in 4:12.04, seven tenths ahead of teammate Alexis Preski (4:12.73).
A pair of Barksdale’s teammates finished 1-2 in the men’s 400 IM, with Tom Peribonio winning in 3:45.25 and Cody Bekemeyer taking second in 3:48.69. Florida State’s Max Polianski was third in 3:49.59.
Florida State captured a 1-2 finish in the women’s 100 fly, with Tayla Lovemore winning in 52.03 and freshman teammate Elise Olsen taking a close second with her time of 52.19. Black took third for Auburn in 52.44.
Waddell won the men’s 100 fly in 46.34, leading a Crimson Tide 1-2 finish with Bams, who took second in 46.78. Kaleoaloha took third in 47.27.
The host Yellow Jackets got on the board with their first win of the meet as Iris Wang held off Alabama’s Leonie Kullman to win the women’s 200 free, 1:45.67 to 1:45.88. Wang’s GT teammate Kaitlin Kitchens took third in 1:47.21.
Howard blasted an impressive time of 1:33.75 to lead the way in the men’s 200 free, while FSU’s Rodo Loock took second (1:35.99) and South Carolina’s Fynn Minuth third (1:36.51).
Florida State’s Natalie Pierce topped the field in the women’s 100 breast with her time of 59.35. Macfarlane had the early lead before fading but still ended up breaking 1:00, touching in 59.82. South Carolina’s Kersten Dirrane was third in 1:01.32.
In the closest race of the day, Wich-Glasen won the 100 breast in 53.01, just ahead of Georgia Tech’s Moises Loschi (53.10) and Bams (53.14).
Florida State’s Madeline Cohen won the women’s 100 back in 52.65, while Auburn finished 2-3 with Tetzloff (53.26) and Erin Faulconer (53.70).
Kaliszak got under 46 to win the men’s 100 back, edging out his teammate Waddell, who came in at 46.01. Georgia Tech’s Rodrigo Correia grabbed third in 46.62.
The only diving event of the night was the women’s three-meter, and it was won by Georgia Tech’s Cami Hidalgo with a score of 325.55. Auburn’s Allison Maillard (318.35) and Florida State’s Ayla Bonniwell (299.95) rounded out the top three.
Alabama won yet another relay in the women’s 800 free, with Kullman, Lydia Jackson, Mia Nonnenberg and Julia Kukla finishing in 7:12.05. Georgia Tech finished second with Wang, Emily Ilgenfritz, Celine Nugent and Kitchens (7:13.63), and South Carolina’s foursome of Heather Merritt, Edith Lingmann, Emily Cornell and Barksdale took third in 7:14.13.
The Crimson Tide continued their win streak through the men’s 800 free relay by putting together a team of Howard, Matthew Adams, Christian Arseneau and Christopher Reid who put up a 6:25.19 for the win. Right behind were the Yellow Jackets with their team of Caio Pumputis, Correia, Christian Ferraro and Colton Williamson (6:25.58). South Carolina’s team of Minuth, Akram Mahmoud, Peribonio and Bekemeyer and took third in 6:28.99.
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