2025 Georgia Invitational: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

Georgia Fall Invitational

• November 18-21, 2025
• Gabrielsen Natatorium — Athens, GA
• 9:30 am ET prelims/5:30 pm ET finals (with an exception of 2 pm ET timed finals on Tuesday)
• 25 Yards (SCY)
• Live Results (also on Meet Mobile: “UGA Fall Invitational 2025”)
• Live Stream
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 Distance | Day 1 Relays | Day 2 Finals

We’re back in Athens for another exciting night of finals. On the schedule this evening are finals of the women’s and men’s 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle, 50 freestyle, and 400 medley relay.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 48.10, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 52.65
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 51.68

Top 8:

1. Emily Jones (BAMA) — 50.61
2. Catie Choate (FLOR) — 51.68
3. Zoe Carlos-Bloc (LSU) — 51.90
4. Alice Velden (FSU) — 52.40
5. Sofia Sartori (LSU) — 52.42
6. Michaela De Villiers (LSU) — 52.55
7. Aspen Gersper (FLOR) — 52.78
8. Sarah Evans (FSU) — 53.41

Emily Jones maintained her top spot from prelims by smashing a new lifetime best of 50.61 to win the women’s 100 backstroke. Jones kicked off the evening by winning the 100 backstroke by almost a second, splitting 24.08/26.53 on her way to victory.

Jones’ 50.61 time betters the 50.75 lifetime best she swam at this meet last season. The 22-year-old touched ahead of Florida’s Catie Choate, who swam 51.68 for 2nd place. Choate neared her own lifetime best of 51.53 with the swim. She set that mark at a dual meet last month. LSU’s Zoe Carlos-Bloc was the final swimmer to break 52-seconds tonight, swimming a 51.90.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 43.20, Hubert Kos (Texas) – 2025
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 46.29
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 45.26

Top 8:

1. Ruard van Renen (UGA) — 43.92
2. Max Wilson (FSU) — 44.43
3. Luca Urlando (UGA) — 44.79
4. Jonny Marshall (FLOR) — 45.23
5. Stepan Goncharov (LSU) — 45.25
6. Tommy Hagar (BAMA) — 45.46
7. Aiden Norman (FLOR) — 46.10
8. Sam Powe (UGA) — 46.11

Georgia teammates Ruard van Renen and Luca Urlando were separated by just nine-hundredths at the 50-yard mark. van Renen held the lead in 21.23, with Urlando further back at 21.32 and Florida’s Jonny Marshall clocking in at 21.34.

van Renen, who finished 3rd place in this event at the 2025 NCAA Championships, popped a 22.69 on the back-half to pull away for the win in 43.92. That swim rattles the lifetime best 43.85 he swam for that 3rd place finish.

He was the only swimmer to crack the 44-second barrier tonight. Florida State’s Max Wilson split 22.97 on his second 50, pulling ahead of Urlando and Marshall to finish 2nd. Wilson touched in 44.43, a lifetime best by almost four-tenths. Urlando, the former American record holder in the 100 backstroke, clocked a 44.79 for 3rd place after a 23.47 closing split.

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 2:01.29, Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 2023
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 2:11.27
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 2:09.58

Top 8:

1. Anita Bottazzo (FLOR) — 2:06.97
2. Elizabeth Nawrocki (UGA) — 2:08.44
3. Molly Mayne (FLOR) — 2:08.65
4. Martina Bukvic (LSU) — 2:08.81
5. Grace Rabb (FLOR) — 2:08.89
6. Julia Mansson (FSU) — 2:10.50
7. Charlotte Headland (UGA) — 2:10.51
8. Grace Palmer (LSU) — 2:14.16

Anita Bottazzo, last night’s 100 breaststroke winner, scraped into the 200 breaststroke final. She posted a 2:11.90 to qualify 8th. She turned on the jets this evening and treated fans to an excellent outside smoke performance.

Bottazzo swam a lifetime best 2:06.97, chopping .92 seconds off the lifetime best 2:07.89 she hit at the Florida vs. Georgia dual meet. This swim moves her up Florida’s all-time rankings to 2nd place, just off the Florida team record 2:06.55 that Nina Kutcheran set two years ago.

The Gators got a 1-3 finish as Bottazzo’s teammate Molly Mayne swam 2:08.65 for 3rd place. The race for 2nd was quite tight, as Elizabeth Nawrocki (2:08.44), Mayne (2:08.65), Martina Bukvic (2:08.81), and Grace Rabb (2:08.89) were separated by .45 seconds (and 3rd through 5th was just .24 seconds).

Nawrocki’s time was a lifetime best too, also bettering a swim that she clocked in October (2:09.96).

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:46.35, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2024
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 1:54.95
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 1:52.89

Top 8:

1. Tommaso Baravelli (FSU) — 1:53.54
2. Aleksas Savickas (FLOR) — 1:53.86
3. Lleyton Arnold (FSU) — 1:54.11
4. Cale Martter (UGA) — 1:54.36
5. Elliot Woodburn (UGA) — 1:54.39
6. Jordan Willis (FLOR) — 1:54.74
7. Liam O’Connor (FSU) — 1:56.95
8. Mathias Christensen (FSU) — 1:57.27

The men’s 200 breaststroke final saw a great battle, with multiple swimmers challenging for the win until Tommaso Baravelli was able to separate himself and win in 1:53.54. It was last night’s 100 breaststroke winner, Elliot Woodburn, who led the field at the halfway mark. Woodburn–who broke 52 seconds for the first time in the 100 breast last night–opened the race in 54.02, turning five-hundredths ahead of Baravelli.

Baravelli used his back half speed to overtake Woodburn for the lead, splitting 59.47 on the second half of his race. He owns a lifetime best of 1:52.37 from the 2025 Florida Invitational.

Florida’s Aleksas Savickas was the only other swimmer to join Barabelli under the 1:54 mark, clocking a 1:53.86. He split 29.54/30.12 over the final 100 yards, denying Florida State a 1-2 finish as Lleyton Arnold took third in 1:54.11.

Woodburn faded to 5th after his hot start, but still posted a lifetime best 1:54.39, getting under 1:55 for the first time in his career. He touched three-hundredths behind his new Georgia teammate Cale Martter, a transfer from Arizona State. Martter’s been as fast as 1:52.19 but this is his fastest effort in a Georgia cap. It makes him the 6th fastest performer in school history. Woodburn cracked the list for the first time too, moving into 7th.

WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky (Stanford) – 2017
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 4:43.70
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 4:39.47

Top 8:

1. Julie Brousseau (FLOR) — 4:35.14
2. Marie Landreneau (UGA) — 4:39.73
3. Elizabeth Tilt (UGA) — 4:42.40
4. Michaela Mattes (FLOR) — 4:42.66
5. Shea Furse (UGA) — 4:42.68
6. Clarke Neace (UGA) — 4:43.79
7. Mackenzie Brandt (BAMA) — 4:44.42
8. Nicole Santuliana (LSU) — 4:46.61

Julie Brousseau stamped her authority on the women’s 500 freestyle final, winning by over 4.5 seconds with a 4:35.14. She was with in a second of her lifetime best 4:34.59, which she swam for bronze at the 2025 SEC Championships.

Now a sophomore, last year was the Canadian Brousseau’s first season swimming yards seriously. So, this time is also a marker in how much she’s improved in this pool-length from this time last year, when she clocked 4:37.19 at this meet.

Georgia was known for their 200/500 freestyle group for the past couple seasons. Now, after multiple graduations, that group looks quite different. But it seems like the group may have found its new star as Marie Landreneau became the only other finalist to break the 4:40 mark this evening. It’s the first time in her career that she’s gotten under that barrier. She came into the meet with a 4:46.40 lifetime best, which she dropped to 4:43.28 in prelims. She took another 3.55 seconds off her best with this swim and led a 2-3 finish for the Dawgs, with Elizabeth Tilt checking in 3rd with a 4:42.40.

The race for 3rd was a close one. Behind Tilt, Michaela Mattes swam 4:42.66 and Shea Furse posted 4:42.68.

MEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 4:02.31, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2024
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 4:18.07
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 4:14.13

Top 8:

1. Ahmed Jaouadi (FLOR) — 4:10.72
2. Leonardo Alcantara (BAMA) — 4:11.28
3. Tomas Koski (UGA) — 4:14.13
4. Sean Green (UGA) — 4:14.75
5. Giovanni Linscheer (FLOR) — 4:14.78
6. Charlie Hutchinson (FLOR) — 4:14.95
7. Finn Hammer (UGA) — 4:20.76
8. Jacob Pishko (LSU) — 4:21.79

Ahmed Jaouadi made it a 500 freestyle sweep for the Florida Gators. The long-course distance world champion charged to the win in 4:10.72, setting a new personal best time. Including prelims, this was Jaouadi’s fifth 500-yard freestyle in his career. He came into the meet with a lifetime best 4:14.94 and swam a 4:14.40 in prelims.

Jaouadi opened his race quickly, setting the tone with a 46.98 opening 100 yards. He came back to the field as the race went on, splitting 50.03/51.23/52.03 over the middle 300. He closed the race in 50.45, keeping himself ahead of Alabama’s Leonardo Alcantara, who came home in 49.10. Alcantara touched 2nd in 4:11.28.

Georgia teammates Tomas Koski and Sean Green finished 3rd and 4th. Koski, an NCAA ‘A’ finalist in this event, clocked 4:14.13 while the freshman Green swam 4:14.75.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 20.37, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 22.28
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 22.01

Top 8:

1. Cadence Vincent (BAMA) — 21.82
2. Michaela De Villiers (LSU) — 21.99
3. Avery Littlefield (LSU) — 22.05
4. Maryn McDade (FSU) / Charlotte Rosendale (BAMA) — 22.23
5. —
6. Jada Scott (BAMA) — 22.34
7. Katie Belle Sikes (UGA) — 22.39
8. Beatriz Bezerra (FLOR) — 22.42

The Alabama women’s sprint crew announced its presence yesterday as the Crimson Tide swam to a resounding win in the women’s 200 freestyle relay. They backed that up today as three members of that winning relay all qualified for the 50 freestyle ‘A’ final.

Last year’s breakout Cadence Vincent took home the win by .17 seconds, clocking a season-best 21.82. She swam a 21.73 at this meet last year, which was a lifetime best at the time (she lowered her personal record all the way to 21.57 at the 2025 NCAA Championships). Tonight, Michaela De Villiers joined her under the 22-second mark, sneaking under in 21.99. That’s just .12 seconds off her lifetime best, a 21.87 swum last season.

Vincent’s teammates Charlotte Rosendale and Jada Scott finished 4th and 6th. Rosendale tied with Maryn McDade for 4th in 22.23 with Scott touching in 22.34.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (Florida) – 2018
• 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 19.43
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 19.02

Top 8:

1. Josh Liendo (FLOR) — 18.40
2. Jere Hribar (LSU) — 18.75
3. Alex Painter (FLOR) — 19.35
4. Sepan Goncharov (LSU) — 19.36
5. Sam Bork (FSU) — 19.37
6. Tane Bidois (UGA) — 19.43
7. Devin Dilger (FLOR) — 19.50
8. Tim Korstanje (BAMA) — 19.52

The men’s 50 freestyle final was all about Josh Liendo. After a blistering 100 butterfly last night–43.42, his fastest non-postseason outing–he blasted an 18.40 in the 50 freestyle final. Pending other results this evening, that makes him the fastest man in the league this season. As with the 100 butterfly, that mark belonged to his Canadian national teammate Ilya Kharun before midseason meets began (18.54). Kharun nearly matched Liendo’s time with a 18.41 tonight in Knoxville, and he could have several more opportunities to go under 18.40 starting tomorrow at the CSCAA Dual Meet Championship.

Jere Hribar, LSU’s go-to sprint star, was the only other man to clear 19 seconds this evening. The Croatian swimmer clocked 18.75, which is a tenth off his lifetime best. It’s also a season-best for him, clearing the 21.89 he posted in LSU’s tri-meet against Alabama and Florida State.

The Gators and the Tigers locked down the top four spots, with Alex Painter swimming 19.35 to go 1-3 with Liendo and Stepan Goncharov swimming 19.36 for 4th. Third through fifth was separated by two-hundredths as Sam Bork swam 19.37.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay — Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:20.20, Virginia (2025 NCAA Championships)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:30.89
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 3:32.51

Top 8:

1. Alabama ‘A’ — 3:27.40 NCAA ‘A’ Standard
2. Florida ‘A’ — 3:28.23 NCAA ‘A’ Standard
3. LSU ‘A’ — 3:31.88
4. FSU ‘A’ — 3:32.65
5. Florida ‘B’ — 3:32.88
6. Georgia ‘A’ — 3:33.81
7. Alabama ‘B’ — 3:36.04
8. Florida ‘C’ — 3:37.08

Like the women’s 200 freestyle relay last night, only the top two women’s 400 medley relay teams were under the NCAA ‘A’ Standard. And also like last night, it was the Alabama women earning a decisive victory. This time, tonight’s 100 backstroke winner Emily Jones teamed with Jada Scott (59.71), the 100 breast winner Gaby van Brunt (50.19), and 50 free winner Cadence Vincent (46.68) to earn the win. The quartet swam 3:27.40, which is much faster than the 3:29.56 Alabama swam at this meet last year. Only Jones and Vincent return from that relay at the 2024 UGA Fall Invitational.

Anita Bottazzo put her 100 breaststroke speed on display again at this meet while swimming on Florida’s ‘A’ relay. After the Gators got a 52.17 lead-off from Addison Reese, Bottazzo fired off a 56.38, which is tied for the 8th fastest 100 breaststroke split in history.

Florida went with Catie Choate (51.91) and Lainy Kruger (47.77) on the back half of their relay. Kruger stopped the clock at 3:28.23 and the Gators were the only team other than Alabama that got under 3:30 this evening.

Men’s 400 Medley Relay — Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 2:55.66, Florida (2025 SEC Championships)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:04.96
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 3:06.20

Top 8: 

1. Georgia ‘A’ — 3:00.84 NCAA ‘A’ Standard
2. FSU ‘A’ — 3:02.52 NCAA ‘A’ Standard
3. LSU ‘A’ — 3:05.37
4. Florida ‘B’ — 3:05.57
5. Alabama ‘A’ — 3:06.45
6. FSU ‘B’ — 3:06.57
7. Georgia ‘B’ — 3:06.87
8. Alabama ‘B’ — 3:09.17

The Georgia men earned the win in the men’s 400 medley relay by more than a second. They came within a half-second of the school record that van Renen, Pitshugin, Urlando, and Branzell swam at the 2025 NCAA Championships (3:00.38).

van Renen, tonight’s 100 backstroke winner, led the crew off with a 44.46. He handed things over to Woodburn, who continued his excellent meet by putting up a 51.24 100 breaststroke split. Then, Urlando split 43.52 and Koski anchored in 41.62 for a final time of 3:00.38, the second-fastest in school history. The relay was well under the NCAA ‘A’ standard of 3:04.96.

The Florida ‘A’ relay was disqualified, leaving them without an ‘A’ cut in this event (though the ‘B’ group was under the NCAA ‘B’ cut with a 3:05.57). Securing the ‘B’ cut qualifies them for this relay as they’ve gotten an ‘A’ standard elsewhere, though now we’ll likely have to wait until the SEC Championships to see this Gator relay at full power.

Florida State’s squad of Max Wilson (44.81), Baravelli (51.79), Michel Arkhangelskiy (44.28), and Logan Robinson (41.65) also got under the NCAA ‘A’ standard, hitting a 3:02.52.

No other relay team broke 3:05.

Team Standings

Women

1. Florida, 624
2. Georgia, 517
3. LSU, 465
4. FSU, 294.5
5. Georgia Tech, 193

Men

1. Florida, 605
2. Georgia, 526
3. FSU, 486.5
4. LSU, 372.5
5. Alabama, 325
6. Georgia Tech, 203