Georgia’s 800-yard freestyle relay came in sixth and matched the school record on Wednesday to start the 2017 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Indiana University Natatorium.
 
 
The quartet of Jay Litherland, Chase Kalisz, Pace Clark and Gunnar Bentz stopped the clock in 6:12.54 to place sixth and earn 26 points. Georgia entered the NCAAs seeded 12th in the event.
 
 
The Bulldogs also went 6:12.54 at last year’s NCAAs with Matias Koski, Clark, Litherland and Bentz. That effort placed fifth at Georgia Tech.
 
 
“What a great way to start this meet,” Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. “Moving up from 12th to sixth and tying the school record in the process is a huge boost to all of our guys. It really sets the tone for us heading into Thursday.”
 
 
N.C. State – which won in an American record time of 6:06.53 — stands first after one day of competition with 40 points, followed by Texas in second with 34, Florida in third with 32, California in fourth with 30, and Southern Cal in fifth with 28.
 
 
The NCAAs will begin in earnest on Thursday with the 500 freestyle, the 200 individual medley, the 50 freestyle, the 200 freestyle and 400 medley relays, and 1-meter diving. Prelims start at 10 a.m., followed by finals at 6 p.m.