SWIMMING and DIVING: Bulldogs Sweep Gators in SEC Opener

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SWIMMING and DIVING: Bulldogs Sweep Gators in SEC Opener

Bulldogs' swim meet against Florida at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga., on October 28, 2016. (Photo by Cory A. Cole/Georgia Sports Communications)
Bulldogs’ swim meet against Florida at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga., on October 28, 2016.
(Photo by Cory A. Cole/Georgia Sports Communications)

 

 

ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia swimming and diving teams won their first home meet of the season against Florida on Friday in Gabrielsen Natatorium.

The Bulldogs recorded a 178-122 victory, while the Lady Bulldogs kept their home win-streak alive with a 164-125 victory. This marks 101 consecutive home victories for the Lady Bulldogs.

 

“I was really excited,” said Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle. “Florida has a really formidable team, but we were pretty good today. That’s about as proud of a team I’ve been in a while.”

The Bulldogs swept the 200 freestyle as Jay Litherland hit the wall first in 1:36.27. Gunnar Bentz was second with a time of 1:37.14 and freshman Walker Higgins placed third with a time of 1:37.51.

Jay Literland also finished first in the 200 backstroke, clocking in at 1:45.43. Other double winners on the day included Chase Kalisz and Pace Clark. Kalisz swept the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke races in 53.86 and 1:54.62, while Clark took both the 100 and 200 butterfly events in 47.63 and 1:44.52.

“I loved being able to help lead this team to our first home win,” said Clark. “Its good to get the season rolling, we have a lot of talent and I’m looking forward to seeing what we will be able to do this season.”

Javier Acevedo finished first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 47.35 and Kevin Litherland stopped the clock first in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:10.88. Higgins took the 500 freestyle in 4:24.98.

The 200-yard medley relay of Taylor Dale, Kalisz, Clark and Acevedo tied with Florida in 1:27.97, while Bentz, Dale, Acevedo and Clark hit the wall first in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 2:57.21.

Megan Raab touched first on three separate occasions for the Lady Bulldogs as she took the 200 freestyle (1:46.23), the 200 breastroke (2:14.27) and the 200 Individual Medley (1:58.29).

“I’m finally back to the training I have been missing for a couple weeks,” said Raab. “It feels really good to be back in the groove again.”

Chantal Van Landeghem won the 50 and the 100 freestyle, finishing in 22.67 and 49.56. Stephanie Peters stopped the clock first in the 500 and 1000 freestyle races, touching in 4:48.83 and 9:52.96, while Megan Kingsley swept the butterfly races, finishing with a time of 53.08 in the 100 and 1:54.97 in the 200.

Olivia Smoliga claimed the 100 backstroke with a 54.22 and Meryn McCann took the 200 backstroke in 1:55.57. Freshman McKensi Austin won the 1-meter and 3-meter diving, posting final scores of 274.50 and 320.10, respectively.

Smoliga, Emily Cameron, Kingsley and Van Landeghem won the 200-yard medley in 1:39.81, while the 400-yard freestyle of Raab, Smoliga, Kylie Stewart and Van Landeghem finished first in 3:21.21.

Georgia will head to The McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta on Wednesday to take on Georgia Tech at 4 p.m.

 

CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS

 

 

 

 

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