Lynch Closes Georgia Invite with Personal Best 42.01 100 Free

2017 GEORGIA FALL INVITATIONAL

The 2017 Georgia Invitational concluded on Sunday in Athens, Georgia with day 3 finals. Swimmers gathered to compete in the finals of the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, and 400 free relay.

MEN’S HIGHLIGHTS:

Men’s 200 Back (2017 Invite Time – 1:41.74):

Auburn’s Hugo Gonzalez picked up another NCAA ‘A’ cut tonight. Gonzalez, a freshman, is making waves in his first ever season of short course swimming. After putting up the #1 time in the nation in the 400 IM last night, he secured the #2 time in the NCAA in the 200 back tonight. Gonzalez’s winning time of 1:39.05 was over half a second below the ‘A’ cut.

Cal freshmen Daniel Carr (1:40.65) and Bryce Mefford (1:40.84) each dropped over a second to dip into the 1:40-range. With Ryan Murphy now a pro, the Bears didn’t have much in terms of immediate scoring projections in the backstrokes, but that’s changed this weekend after Carr and Mefford’s improvements. Auburn’s Petter Fredriksson joined them in dipping under the 2017 NCAA invite time with a 1:41.60 for 4th place.

Men’s 100 Free (2017 Invite Time – 42.76):

Cal teammates Justin Lynch and Ryan Hoffer broke slightly ahead of the field as they battled to the finish. Lynch led by a nail at the halfway mark, but was able to outpace Hoffer to stretch his lead up to a couple of tenths through the back half. Lynch won in an NCAA ‘A’ cut and new personal best of 42.01, followed by Hoffer in 42.28. Lynch’s time is #2 in the NCAA and short of #1 by just 2 hundredths.

Swimming a few tenths under the 2017 invite time were Auburn’s Peter Holoda and Cal’s Michael Jensen as Holoda got his hand to the wall in a tight race for 3rd in 42.44 to Jensen’s 42.47. Michigan’s Paul Powers was just hundredths shy of last season’s invite time in 42.79.

Men’s 200 Fly (2017 Invite Time – 1:43.09):

Cal’s Zheng Quah, the top NCAA returner in this event, won the race handily in an NCAA ‘A’ cut time of 1:40.68 to become the #2 swimmer in the NCAA this season and was shy of the #1 spot by just a tenth. Quah used his back half speed to pull away from teammate Michael Thomas and Georgia freshman Camden Murphy, who wound up battling for 2nd place.

Murphy had a tenth on Thomas at the half, but Thomas outsplit him across the back half. Thomas touched with a 1:41.22 for an NCAA ‘A’ cut and lifetime best, while Murphy was just tenths shy in 1:41.74. Murphy’s swim demolished his former best time by 2.5 seconds. Virginia’s Zach Fong rolled to a personal best 1:42.67 to clear the 2017 NCAA invite time behind them.

Men’s 200 Breast (2017 Invite Time – 1:54.54):

Cal’s Andrew Seliskar looks like he may be swapping out the 200 fly for the 200 breast this season, the latter of which he won tonight. Seliskar jumped out to the early lead in 53.93. Michigan’s Jacob Montague started to reel him in as Seliskar began to fade on the final 50, but Seliskar was able to hold him off, winning in 1:53.05  to Montague’s 1:53.23. The Wolverines got 2 under the 2017 NCAA invite time, as Tommy Cope finished 3rd in 1:53.72. Cope blew away his best time by 2 seconds.

Men’s 1650 Free (2017 Invite Time – 14:56.84):

Michigan All-Americans Felix Auboeck and PJ Ransford turned in a 1-2 finish for the Wolverines. Through the first 500 yards, Ransford kept it pretty even as they both flipped in 4:30s, but Auboeck was able to break ahead after that. Auboeck’s 14:43.76 and Ransford’s 14:49.36 were both several seconds uncer the 2017 NCAA invite time.

Cal’s Nick Norman finished about a second below the mark with a 14:55.73 for 3rd place. Virginia’s Brendan Casey came up a couple of seconds shy, but broke 15:00 for the first time and chopped nearly 7 seconds off his best in 14:58.25. Cal freshman Sean Grieshop followed in 15:00.20.

Men’s 400 Free Relay:

Cal (2:48.42) and Auburn (2:51.04) raced to NCAA ‘A’ cuts in the 400 free relay, with the Bears getting their B relay under the mark as well. Jensen highlighted Cal’s A team with a 41.55 on the 2nd leg. Auburn’s Holoda led off in 42.44, while Zach Apple (42.53) provided another 42-mid on the 2nd leg to help the Tigers edge out Cal’s B team.

FINAL MEN’S TEAM SCORES:

  1. University of California, Berkeley – 1014
  2. University of Michigan – 915
  3. University of Georgia – 674
  4. Auburn University – 664
  5. University of Virginia – 378
  6. Harvard University – 80

WOMEN’S HIGHLIGHTS:

Women’s 100 Free (2017 Invite Time – 48.62):

After a quick 47.16 in prelims, Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil was even faster tonight with a 46.95, holding off Michigan standout Siobhan Haughey (47.20) on the back half. Both Weitzeil and Haughey were under the NCAA ‘A’ cut. Georgia’s Veronica Burchill was just 3 tenths shy with a 47.89 for 3rd. Though she was slightly faster with a 47.83 relay leadoff towards the end of the session, this marked Burchill’s first swim sub-48 and was well below the 2017 invite time.

Virginia sprinter Caitlin Cooper secured a likely invite to NCAAs with a 48.26 for 4th place, holding off a late charge from Michigan’s Gabby Deloof (48.35), who also cleared the 2017 mark. Sister Catie Deloof clipped that time as well, swimming just under it with a 48.60.

Women’s 200 Back (2017 Invite Time – 1:54.00):

Aside from Weitzeil, teammate Amy Bilquist was the only other woman to make an individual ‘A’ cut tonight. Bilquist dominated the back half of the race, breaking ahead of Michigan’s Clara Smiddy and Georgia’s Kylie Stewart to win it in 1:50.48 and post the #2 time in the NCAA. Smiddy (1:51.03) came from behind to outswim Stewart (1:51.88) as both were seconds below the 2017 NCAA invite time.

Virginia youngsters Emma Seiberlich and Abby Richter rounded out the top 5. Between prelims and finals, Seiberlich knocked over a second form her best time today, clearing the 2017 invite time with a 1:53.45. Richter was just off it with a personal best 1:54.22.

Women’s 200 Fly (2017 Invite Time – 1:56.60):

The women’s 200 fly saw a thrilling battle between Cal’s Noemie Thomas and Virginia’s Jenn Marrkand. Through the first 100, Marrkand took a half-second lead over Thomas, and she continued to build that lead through to 150. Thomas came home strong, though, running down Marrkand as they touched simultaneously to tie for the win in 1:54.12.

Georgia teammates Megan Kingsley and Chelsea Britt battled for 3rd, with Kingsley taking it out a second faster and holding on to finish in 1:54.43 to Britt’s 1:54.80 as both were well under the 2017 NCAA invite time. Cal’s Katie McLaughlin (1:55.85) and Georgia’s Caitlin Casazza (1:56.46) were under the 2017 invite time as well, while Michigan’s Vanessa Krause (1:56.72) was just a tenth off.

Women’s 200 Breast (2017 Invite Time – 2:10.55):

Michigan’s Miranda Tucker took control of the race early and held on to win in 2:08.73. Behind her, teammate Emily Kopas (2:09.75) kicked it up a notch on the final 50 to run down Georgia’s Meaghan Raab (2:10.16). Cal freshman Ali Harrison was just a few tenths shy of the 2017 NCAA invite time with a 2:10.92 for 4th place. She knocked another 7 tenths from her best after taking 2 seconds off her best in prelims.

Women’s 1650 Free (2017 Invite Time – 16:16.41):

The Michigan distance duo of Rose Bi and G Ryan pulled off a 1-2 finish for the Wolverines as they Bi won in 16:02.42 and Ryan followed in 16:05.88. Georgia’s Olivia Anderson joined them in finishing several seconds under the 2017 invite time with a 16:07.07 for 3rd, while Michigan’s Sierra Schmidt snuck under last season’s invite mark in 16:15.42.

Women’s 400 Free Relay:

Cal (3:10.95), Virginia (3:12.06), Michigan (3:21.21), and Georgia (3:15.05) all cleared the NCAA ‘A’ cut in the 400 free relay. It was an exciting race that saw 3 teams battling for the win on the final leg. Michigan held the lead with 100 to go after a pair of 47s from Haughey (47.07) and Catie Deloof (47.89) on the middle legs. They weren’t able to hold off Cal’s Weitzeil, however, who dashed to a 46.63 anchor split to win it for the Bears. Virginia clipped the Wolverines at the finish for 2nd place as Laine Reed brought in home in 47.79.

FINAL WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES:

  1. University of Michigan 991.5
  2. University of Georgia – 833.5
  3. University of California, Berkeley – 830
  4. University of Virginia – 633.5
  5. University of California, Los Angeles – 126
  6. Harvard University – 96.5
  7. Auburn University – 64

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Bay City Tex
6 years ago

Would love to see a “Way too early analysis of championship predictions” based on fall invites, and any inside knowledge of rest, tapers, etc… for Horns Bears, Wolfpack, and Gators.

Swimmer
Reply to  Bay City Tex
6 years ago

Duals don’t matter. Fall invites don’t matter,

Captain Ahab
6 years ago

Hugo Gonzalez might be the next Martin Zubero.

Ervin
6 years ago

Cal men now have the top time in all 5 relays

gator
Reply to  Ervin
6 years ago

not in 4 X 200 free

Ervin
Reply to  gator
6 years ago

according to college swimming they do….whose ahead of them? Texas?…maybe they havent added the times from their invite

Reply to  Ervin
6 years ago

USA Swimming Event Rank is usually the most up-to-date NCAA rankings: https://www.usaswimming.org/utility/landing-pages/times/ncaa-division-i. Texas is atop the 800, though Cal is still fastest in the other four.

swammer
Reply to  Ervin
6 years ago

And most impressive is the fact that their fastest 400 medley relay was their ‘B’ relay and didn’t even have the fastest legs in that one relay.
If they took their four fastest legs:
Daniel Carr (C): 46.09
Connor Hoppe (A): 51.69
Justin Lynch (B): 45.08
Michael Jensen (A): 41.78
Total time: 3:04.6
which is nearly two seconds faster than what they actually went.

big ball fan
Reply to  swammer
6 years ago

texas’s A was also DQ’d tho

Horninco
Reply to  big ball fan
6 years ago

Don’t think Texas will win the medley relays regardless.

Michigan Fan
6 years ago

Where has Astrid Swensen been this season?!

M_FAN
Reply to  Michigan Fan
6 years ago

She’s no longer listed on the roster.

Steve Swims
6 years ago

Diving and swimming should be separate sports

crooked donald
Reply to  Steve Swims
6 years ago

Yeah, let’s see what Dressel can do from a push.

Dan
Reply to  Steve Swims
6 years ago

I don’t disagree with you, but for the time being, diving and swimming are attached. Everyone knows that and can recruit accordingly. My old coach used to say you wouldn’t show up to play a baseball game without a right fielder. Same goes for divers.

Gravy
6 years ago

Coming from a UNC guy, UVA quietly doing some very very nice things. 3:12.0 women’s relay, school record. The DeSorbo effect has started. It will only be a matter of time. UVA is in much much better hands with DeSorbo than Busch.

Men doing well too.

Uberfan
Reply to  Gravy
6 years ago

Busch got a nation leading time out of one of his swimmers.

Oldswimfan
Reply to  Gravy
6 years ago

Busch got the women’s team finish 5th in 2015 and 2016. That’s not too shabby. DeSorbo walked in to a team full of talent.

Gravy
Reply to  Oldswimfan
6 years ago

Most comical post I’ve ever heard. Busch walked into the most talented class UVA ever had, recruited by Bernadino, then left when the recruiting talent had dwindled substantially.

Comparing what DeSorbo walked into vs what Busch walked into isn’t even a comparison. Busch walked into teams both men and women at peak of UVA swimming. DeSorbo walked into a good UVA women team, but no where near the level Busch walked into.

Also, how many swimmers left during Busch’s first year? How many so far in DeSorbos?

Yeah, UVA is in better hands

Uberfan
6 years ago

4 42 second 100 freestlyers 1 fastest highschooler in history. Two 18 second 50’s coupled with 2 19 low 50’s. Cal gonna dominate relays. Also way to go Mefford and Carr. Texas is lucky they can taper through their entire conference championship. Also a really solid looking 200 fly team from Cal. Who is Texas gonna send? Not as many as Cal. They got Lynch, Josa, Thomas, Seliskar, Hoffer, Sendyk, Carr, Mefford, Hoppe, Jensen I can see Grieshop getting there too. Texas got Schooling, Shebat and Harty have been struggling, Katz is looking good though. Jackson and Ringgold. Cal swimmers are way better, but Texas may ONLY win because of diving.

murica
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

You forgot Sand who split 51.8 and will show up when it counts. Also some of the fringe swimmers have been known to show up for a B final here and there. Nick Norman in the mile, Ryan Kao 500, Ken Takahashi 400 IM, Jack Xie, etc

Jay ryan
Reply to  murica
6 years ago

All those cal guys made it last year as did whittle so cal will likely have a full team

h2olover
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

You forgot about Bear’s sophomore Quah Zheng Wen, and his A cut in the 200 fly. He is also a threat to score in the 100 fly and 200 IM. Texas also will get points from Haas, Stewart, Robert and Jackson etc., but I agree that Horn diving points may prove decisive. Auburn’s hire of Sergio Lopez is already paying dividends with Spanish import Hugo Gonzalez who was best swimmer in Georgia.

Uberfan
Reply to  h2olover
6 years ago

Samuel Stewart? I don’t see him making NCAA’s

JP input is too short
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

He’s under what it took to qualify last year in the 400 IM now. Obviously that’s not a sure thing though.

enchantedrock
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

He freaking scored at NC’s last year and is in this year

Horninco
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

Don’t worry about Texas, we will send a full squad. And we won’t need diving points to win, although that is part of the game so you could play too if you wanted.

crooked donald
Reply to  Horninco
6 years ago

You need some more people to make A cuts first.

JP input is too short
Reply to  crooked donald
6 years ago

6 guys with A cuts so far… nobody’s got more.

Horninco
Reply to  JP input is too short
6 years ago

Don’t you dare bring facts into this discussion!

crooked donald
Reply to  JP input is too short
6 years ago

Like I said, they’ll need more than 6. Pretty big drop off to the guys with B cuts. Cal has 8 guys with B’s that’ll make A cuts by the time NCAAs roles around to make 11.

Horninco
Reply to  crooked donald
6 years ago

Yeah, I’m sure Eddie is worried about that. You think this is his first rodeo?

Jay Ryan
Reply to  crooked donald
6 years ago

Of course UT swimmers need to make their A cuts, but if you look at the recent history. UTalways seems to have a bunch of guys that we’ve never heard of come out of the woodwork and make cuts just before NCAA. Most in our community follow swimming very closely but we rarely hear of these guys before they arrive in Austin. Maybe it’s because they typically have common names like Smith, Jackson, Stewart, Glass, Roberts, etc. Whatever, it is clear that Reese knows how to develop diamonds in the rough into NCAA qualifiers. As with Cal they will likely have a full team in Minneapolis.

crooked donald
Reply to  Jay Ryan
6 years ago

Never said they wouldn’t, just said they needed to. As someone else said (against me), don’t let facts get in the way.

coachymccoachface
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

Sam Pom went 1:40 in the 200 fly for Texas

JP input is too short
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

Harty went a sub-1:40 200 back a couple nights ago… he’s working his way back from injury well. Also don’t forget about Haas, and Jonathan Roberts made 3 A finals last year.

enchantedrock
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

Texas had 13 guys go under what got in last year:
Haas, Schooling, Ringold, Katz, Harty, Pomajavich (all a times) + Jackson, Neri, Artmun, Newkirk, Shebat, and Stewart

coach
6 years ago

kal gals krushed stoopid by Michigan over 160 pts
kal beat by Georgia too they on there way down fast
gonna be lucky 2 even make top 10 this year lol

NCAA #2-6 gonna go 2 TAMU Texas Michigan USC Georgia
of cause we all know who da blowout winners gonna be
#fearthetree #nerdnationdomination #gocard

Uberfan
Reply to  coach
6 years ago

and all without Baker arguably their best swimmer.

paloozas
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

and divers

paloozas
Reply to  coach
6 years ago

who’s hate is more intense? coach’s hate for cal, or crooked donald’s hate for trump?
upvote for coach, downvote for crooked donald

paloozas
Reply to  paloozas
6 years ago

sorry, texas

Uberfan
Reply to  paloozas
6 years ago

Why bring politics info this you could just have easily said Texas instead of Trump

ex quaker
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

Probably because the dude’s username is “Crooked Donald.”

paloozas
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

i meant texas lol

crooked donald
Reply to  paloozas
6 years ago

Can’t believe I lost that one.

h2olover
Reply to  coach
6 years ago

Michigan and Georgia (both men and women) scored diving points while Cal divers passed on meet.

SwimHero6
Reply to  h2olover
6 years ago

Michigan divers scored less than 90 points, so still a comfortable win for them even considering cal didn’t bring divers

coach
Reply to  SwimHero6
6 years ago

what SWIMHERO6 wrote
kal still got pwned big time
they lack da depth 2 hang with da big gals

coacherik
Reply to  coach
6 years ago

Cal*

Al Edwards
Reply to  SwimHero6
6 years ago

Michigan was also the only team shaved

SwimsLady
Reply to  Al Edwards
6 years ago

Felix Auboeck had a beard in his video, so clearly the entire team wasn’t shaved…. maybe just a few? I don’t think Michigan has the star power to beat Cal at NCAAs on the women’s side anyway but damn they are deep.

JP input is too short
Reply to  SwimsLady
6 years ago

They should offer a trade of Cope to Texas for Artmann so they have a backstroker. Or could really up the ante and go Montague for Katz.

toastedcoconut
Reply to  coach
6 years ago

A&M beat Stanford too, let’s not kid ourselves.

coach
Reply to  toastedcoconut
6 years ago

Coach Meehan no have Manuel & Byrnes
Eastin no swim 200 im

Stanford no 800 free relay
tamu score 98 gift pts 4 this relay

many Card no swim there best events
we swim tired but tamu shave & rested

tamu team double Card they use d & e relays
these no score or even qualify 4 ncaas

tamu is good team gonna be runnerup this year
but nobodys can compare to Stanford gonna win ez

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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