2023 NC State/GAC Invitational
- November 16-18, 2023
- Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims Finals
- Prelims start at 9:30AM Eastern, Finals at 5:30 PM Eastern
- Participating teams: #1M/#15W Arizona State, #4M/#7w NC State, #8M/#18W Virginia Tech, Army, #16W Duke
- Meet Results
The 2023 NC State, all-yards invitational kicks off on Thursday morning in Greensboro. There, US National Teamer Kennedy Noble will start her competition in the 200 IM, and Arizona State’s Hubert Kos will race as the top seed in the 200 IM.
The big news though is that Arizona State’s Leon Marchand, the world’s best IMer and arguably best male swimmer, period, won’t swim the 200 IM where he’s the fastest in history. Instead, he opens with a 500 free on Day 1, with eyes on a potential record-setting performance.
WOMEN’S 500-YARD FREESTYLE — PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 4:24.06 — Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 4:37.89
- 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 4:41.09
Top 8:
- Deniz Ertan (ASU), 4:42.41
- Chase Travis (VT), 4:44.09
- Emma Hastings (NCS), 4:44.47
- Yara Hierath (NCS), 4:44.63
- Alexa Reyna (ASU), 4:45.34
- Lindsay Looney (ASU), 4:46.12
- Molly Batchelor (ASU), 4:46.14
- Catherine Purnell (DUKE), 4:48.61
Arizona State sophomore Deniz Ertan paced the field in the women’s 500 free in a time of 4:42.41, just shy of the season-best 4:42.01 she produced earlier this month in the Sun Devils’ dual with USC.
Ertan, who transferred to ASU after spending her freshman year at Georgia Tech, set a PB of 4:38.04 en route to winning the ACC title last season.
Virginia Tech’s Chase Travis clocked 4:44.09 to grab 2nd heading into tonight’s final, with her fastest time last season coming in at 4:42.67 from ACCs. The senior owns a personal best time of 4:41.71 set back in March 2020.
NC State’s Emma Hastings and Yara Hierath grabbed the 3-4 seeds with 4:44-mid performances, while Arizona State picked up the next three spots this morning, led by freshman Alexa Reyna.
Reyna, who joined the Sun Devils one year early, went 4:45.34 to mark her fastest swim in college, having set a best of 4:42.92 in February 2022.
MEN’S 500-YARD FREESTYLE — PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 4:06.32 — Kieran Smith, Florida (2020)
- 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 4:10.74
- 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 4:14.36
Top 8:
- Owen Lloyd (NCS), 4:16.52
- Julian Hill (ASU), 4:17.46
- Daniel Matheson (ASU), 4:18.52
- Lance Norris (NCS), 4:18.92
- Ross Dant (NCS), 4:19.84
- Nico Garcia (VT), 4:20.55
- James Plage (NCS), 4:21.26
- Sam Flack (NCS), 4:21.36
NC State senior Owen Lloyd led the way in the men’s 500 free as the highly-anticipated appearance of Leon Marchand didn’t happen.
Lloyd, who set a pair of best times in the 1000 free and 200 fly in a tri-meet two weeks ago, added a third PB on the month in a time of 4:16.52, knocking off his previous best of 4:17.57 set at the ACC Championships in February.
Marchand, meanwhile, was a DFS and did not show for his heat, with his PB sitting at a blistering 4:07.81 from February.
His ASU teammates had a solid morning with two swimmers in the top three, as senior Julian Hill clocked 4:17.46 for a new season-best and junior Daniel Matheson followed suit in 4:18.52.
The two teammates placed 18th and 19th last season at NCAAs last season, having set respective bests of 4:12.21 and 4:13.14 earlier in the season.
In addition to Lloyd, NC State put four more swimmers into the ‘A’ final, led by sophomore Lance Norris, who came within 1.5 seconds of his PB in 4:18.92.
WOMEN’S 200-YARD IM — PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 1:48.37 — Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 1:53.66
- 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 1:56.90
Top 8:
- Ieva Maluka (ASU), 1:55.61
- Kennedy Noble (NCS), 1:55.98
- Sarah Foley (DUKE), 1:57.07
- Catherine Belyakov (DUKE), 1:58.27
- Caroline Bentz (VT), 1:58.61
- Charli Brown (ASU), 1:58.81
- Martina Peroni (DUKE), 1:59.07
- Catherine Helms (NCS), 1:59.18
Arizona State sophomore Ieva Maluka dropped nearly two seconds from her personal best time to lead the way in the women’s 200 IM in a time of 1:55.61, ranking her 1st in the nation so far this season based on times coming into the day.
Maluka, whose previous best stood at 1:57.37 from the 2023 Pac-12s, is a Latvian native and has represented the country at various international meets throughout her young career, including the 2023 World Championships where she was 23rd in the 200 IM (2:15.33 LCM).
After missing the meet as a freshman, that swim should secure her spot at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
NC State backstroke star Kennedy Noble qualified 2nd in 1:55.98, just .02 off of what she produced in the NCAA final last season where she finished 14th. Noble was also just half a second shy of her PB (1:55.48) set in the NCAA prelims.
Duke put three swimmers into the ‘A’ final, led by senior Sarah Foley who was 8th in the event at the 2023 NCAAs.
Foley, who owns a best of 1:54.12, lowered her season-best down over seven-tenths in 1:57.07.
MEN’S 200-YARD IM — PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 1:36.34 — Léon Marchand, Arizona State (2023)
- 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 1:41.03
- 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 1:43.14
Top 8:
- Hubert Kos (ASU), 1:41.56
- Owen McDonald (ASU), 1:42.48
- David Schlicht (ASU), 1:43.71
- Cale Martter (ASU), 1:43.82
- Sam Hoover (NCS), 1:44.72
- Carles Coll Marti (VT), 1:45.08
- Mikey Moore (NCS), 1:45.60
- Noah Bowers (NCS), 1:46.15
Arizona State dominated the men’s 200 IM despite the absence of Marchand, grabbing the top four spots heading into the final led by Hubert Kos.
Kos, a sophomore who was 11th in the event at NCAAs last season, set a new personal best time of 1:41.56, lowering his 1:41.61 mark from the NCAA final.
His teammate Owen McDonald, also a sophomore, logged a time of 1:42.48 to comfortably qualifying 2nd overall, with his PB sitting at 1:41.60 from the 2023 Pac-12s.
Two other consolation finalists from the 2023 NCAAs, David Schlicht and Carles Coll Marti, cruised through in 3rd and 6th, respectively, while ASU’s Cale Martter hit a new best time of 1:43.82 to qualify 4th.
WOMEN’S 50-YARD FREESTYLE — PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 20.79 — Maggie MacNeil, Louisiana State (2023)/Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2023)
- 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 21.63
- 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 22.15
Top 8:
- Katharine Berkoff (NCS), 21.68
- Abby Arens (NCS), 22.25
- Tatum Wall (DUKE), 22.32
- Cassie Moses (NCS), 22.52
- Carmen Weiler Sastre (VT), 22.54
- Miriam Sheehan (NCS), 22.56
- Erin Milligan (ASU), 22.61
- Meghan Donald (NCS), 22.66
NC State put five up in the women’s 50 free, with Katharine Berkoff leading the field by nearly six-tenths in a time of 21.68, just 14 one-hundredths shy of her lifetime best.
Berkoff has broken 22 seconds on numerous occasions, but this is actually the first time she’s done so this early in the season. Her previous fastest time at a midseason invite was 22.11 from November 2021.
Her teammate Abby Arens qualified 2nd in 22.25, just .03 off of her personal best time, while Duke’s Tatum Wall chopped .01 off her PB to advance 3rd in 22.32.
The rest of the ‘A’ final qualifiers were all within a tenth of their best time, with ASU’s Erin Milligan the only one resetting their best time in 22.61.
MEN’S 50-YARD FREESTYLE — PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 17.63 — Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
- 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 18.82
- 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 19.21
Top 8:
- Jack Dolan (ASU), 18.90
- Quintin McCarty (NCS), 18.91
- Jonny Kulow (ASU), 19.06
- Drew Salls (NCS), 19.20
- Ilya Kharun (ASU), 19.23
- Youssef Ramadan (VT), 19.24
- Noah Henderson (NCS), 19.49
- Cam Peel (ASU), 19.58
Jack Dolan and Quintin McCarty stepped up with a pair of sub-19 prelim swims in the men’s 50 free, with McCarty getting under the barrier for the first time.
Dolan fired off a time of 18.90 to lead the field, ranking 2nd in the NCAA behind Jordan Crooks, who dropped a pair of 18.4 swims last night in Tennessee.
Dolan, who previously led the season rankings with his 19.02 from ASU’s dual with NC State in October, owns a personal best time of 18.86 from the 2023 Pac-12s.
McCarty obliterated his previous best time by nearly half a second in 18.91, having previously been 19.35 back at the 2021 Winter Junior Championships – West.
ASU sophomore Jonny Kulow was .01 off his best time to qualify 3rd in 19.06, and his freshman teammate Ilya Kharun showed off his incredible range with a massive best time by nearly a full second in 19.23.
NC State’s Drew Salls also narrowly missed his lifetime best to advance in 4th, clocking 19.20 after going 19.14 at the Bulldog Qualifying Meet this past February. Salls notably dropped an 18.75 relay split at NC State’s tri-meet with Duke and Georgia earlier this month.
Given his crazy 50 fly progress, it makes total sense for Kharun to do 50 free. But let’s admit it’s more exciting for someone to combo 500/1650 with 100 fly. Same thing with Bella Sims – these Sandpipers have room to get better in college, but they may never be as interesting swimmers as they were in high school.
Coming into the meet Kharun had a 50 free PB of :20.16 from the 12/21 Juniors West, which was an insanely fast meet for everyone including Ilya. He dropped from over 20 to :19.23. Quite remarkable.
Anyone know what happened in the women’s 50 free. Seems like the folks at Greensboro can’t reset meet mobile.
Results just updated. Berkoff leads the pack at 21.68.
The young NC State sprinters are going to give Jack Dolan a run for his money! 18.91 and and 19.20 are absurd prelim swims for those guys.
Can someone explain what Sam Hoover is up to. He is swimming well this fall, including 1:44.7 2 IM this morning and 100 Free relay split of :42.5 against Georgia and :53.1 100 brst v ASU. He was not in the 100 Breast today, but was in the 200 free and swam a race that was split looking suspiciously like a 200 Breaststroke at 1:50.33. (:24.40; :51.85(:27.45); 1:21.20(:29.35); 1:50.33(:29.13). What was this thing? Nation-leading 200 Breast swum in a 200 free event? 50 breast followed by 150 free? What?
Interesting side effect of seeing NC State haul in so many top recruits the last several years. While much of the team is in Greensboro, a pretty spiffy crew is actually… Read more »
Just learned the Georgia meet “Live Results” is still posting the 2023 Spring Last-Chance meet. Sorry I didn’t catch it.
Speeedy prelims swim from Hubi.
Hubert Kos looked real smooth. If you’re an IMer, you might need to have ASU at the top of your list.
Men’s 50 free tonight is going to be nice with Dolan/McCarty going 18 and other ASU/NCSU swimmers going 19 lows. Top 12 all went under 20.
Watch for the outside smoke.
Cam Peel of ASU will be in 8. Noah Henderson of NCState will be in 1. Which do you nominate to create outside smoke and why?
I’d suggest you might be interested in watching lane 7 for the swimmer with the fastest PB in the field: Youssef Ramadan (:18.68)
Anyone know if Marchand has been sighted in Greensboro? If he is, maybe they are just gearing up to try something special in the MR? Or double up on Day 2/3? Or did he just not make the trip?
He’s become too fast to be seen with human eyes
He got a DNS in his 500 because he finished the race before anyone else realized it started. He is just that good
Are we sure hes even real?
He is tesseracting to Greensboro.
Sad that Leon is unwell, but the respect for him has grown to such proportions that five consecutive fun posts on his absence HIT on the humor meter. Hope you are better soon Leon.
I hope Leon will get well by tomorrow.
In the men’s 200 IM ASU still took the top 4 times in the prelims with Kos leading with a 1:41.56