Alabama
Georgia Tech Invitational
Alabama Swimming and Diving Tallies 16 Wins and Three School Records at Georgia Tech Invitational
11/20/2017 8:16:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Crimson Tide won nine individual events and seven relays in Atlanta
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama swimming and diving teams are heading into the week of Thanksgiving following a very strong showing at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, Ga., last weekend.
The Crimson Tide won nine individual races and seven relays over the three-day event.
Junior Robert Howard led the men's team, tallying individual wins in the 50 (19.11), 100 (41.99) and 200 (1:33.75) freestyle events and swimming legs on all five winning relays. His performance ranks him first in the nation in the 100 freestyle, third in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 200 freestyle. His times in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, all career-best marks, ranks him second all-time at Alabama in all three events.
Senior Luke Kaliszak clocked a 45.85 to win the 100 backstroke, ranking him third nationally. Senior Laurent Bams' preliminary time of 52.73 in the 100 breaststroke keeps him in the top-five nationally in the event.
Sophomore Zane Waddell took top honors in the 100 butterfly with a time of 46.34, ranking him eighth in the event nationally. He also came in second to Kaliszak in the 100 backstroke (46.01) and Howard in the 100 freestyle (42.68). His times rank him fifth and sixth in the nation respectively.
The men's team remains undefeated in relay events this season, winning the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle as well as the 200 and 400 medley relays in Atlanta. The Tide men are ranked in the top-four nationally in all five relay and have earned automatic NCAA standards in the 200 and 400 freestyle and medley relays while Howard has an "A" cut in the 100 freestyle.
Kaliszak, Bams, Waddell and Howard won the 200 medley relay (1:24.60) and 400 medley relay (3:07.04) in Atlanta. Waddell, Howard, Kaliszak and Bams (1:16.68) won the 200 freestyle relay, while Bams, Waddell, Reid and Howard (2:50.46) combined to win the 400 freestyle relay. Howard, senior Matthew Adams, junior Christian Arseneau and Reid (6:25.19) won the 800 freestyle relay.
On the women's side of the slate, freshman Leonie Kullmann enjoyed a breakthrough weekend, setting school records on the way to winning the 500 freestyle (4:41.95) and taking second in the 200 freestyle (1:45.88). She is the top-ranked freshman in the nation in both events.
Kullman also swam a leg on the Tide's school-record-setting 400 freestyle relay, combining with fellow rookie Flora Molnar and seniors Temarie Tomley and Bailey Scott to post a 3:15.39, earning the quartet an automatic NCAA berth.
Junior Justine Macfarlane won the 200 breaststroke with a career-best 2:09.58 that ranks fourth all-time at Alabama. She also took second in the 100 breaststroke, clocking a career-best 59.82, which ranks her third all-time at Alabama.
Senior Mia Nonnenberg won the 1,650 freestyle with a 16:23.62. She also combined with rookies Kullman, Lydia Jackson and Julia Kukla to win the 800 freestyle relay with a time of 7:12.05. Junior Katie Kelsoe, Macfarlane, Molnar and senior Bailey Scott dropped a 1:37.55 to win the 200 medley relay. The Tide women's 200 and 400 medley and freestyle relays are all ranked in the top-10 nationally coming out last weekend.
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Players Mentioned
