Thursday, November 15
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Georgia Tech Invite
Kelly Fertel climbs in Florida's all-time records.
Historic Swims Pace Gators on Day One of Georgia Tech Invitational
Thursday, November 15, 2018 | Women's Swimming & Diving
ATLANTA – The Florida women's swimming & diving team recorded eight personal-best times and 21 season-best swims in the prelims on the first day of the Georgia Tech Invitational at the McAuley Aquatic Center. The Gators collected 360 points and lead after day one. Leah Braswell, Vanessa Pearl, and Kelly Fertel all had record-setting swims in their respective individual events to pace Florida.
Twenty swimmers and two divers qualified for finals on the opening day at Georgia Tech. Ten qualified for finals in the 500 Free, six in the 200 IM and four in the 50 Free.
The team of Bella Garofalo, Sherridon Dressel, Emma Ball, and Kelsey Dambacher placed fourth in the 200 Free Relay with a combined swim of 1:30.35. That's the fastest time by a Gators relay team this season.
In the 500 Free A Final, Braswell recorded the fourth-fastest time in program history and a new personal-best with a mark of 4:37.83, as she placed first. Taylor Ault added a season-best time of 4:42.08 and placed third.
Georgia Marris placed second in the 500 Free B Final with a personal-best time of 4:46.01. In the C Final, Nikki Miller and Kahra Williams finished one, two. Miller posted a season-best swim of 4:48.70 and Williams added a season-best mark of 4:49.27.
Pearl set the tone early in the 200 IM and never looked back. She recorded Florida's third-fastest time in program history with a swim of 1:55.25, as she won the A Final. Fertel improved on her Top-10 time and moved up into the fourth-fastest all time with her mark of 1:56.05.
Savanna Faulconer placed sixth in the 200 IM B Final with a season-best mark of 2:01.58. Sydney Sell won the C Final with a season-best time of 2:00.29.
In the 50 Free, Garofalo clocked an NCAA B Cut time of 22.92 and finished ninth in the A Final.
Dressel recorded an NCAA B Cut swim of 22.61 in the 50 Free B Final. Ball added an eighth-place finish with a time of 23.21. Gabby Hillis placed ninth with a mark of 23.25.
Brooke Madden compiled a total of 329.55 points as she placed third in the 3-meter. Elizabeth Perez collected a personal-best score of 325.40 and placed fifth.
Ball, Pearl, Dressel and Garofalo notched the fastest time by the Gators in the 400 Medley Relay. They combined for a swim of 3:34.59.
Team Standings
1. Florida – 360
2. Auburn – 281.5
3. South Carolina – 181.5
T4. Alabama – 181
T4. Florida State – 181
6. Virginia Tech – 161
7. North Carolina – 160
8. Georgia Tech – 125
9. Florida Gulf Coast – 93
10. East Carolina – 62
Up Next
200 medley relay
400 IM
100 fly
200 free
100 breast
100 back
Women's diving
Men's diving
800 free relay
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Twenty swimmers and two divers qualified for finals on the opening day at Georgia Tech. Ten qualified for finals in the 500 Free, six in the 200 IM and four in the 50 Free.
The team of Bella Garofalo, Sherridon Dressel, Emma Ball, and Kelsey Dambacher placed fourth in the 200 Free Relay with a combined swim of 1:30.35. That's the fastest time by a Gators relay team this season.
In the 500 Free A Final, Braswell recorded the fourth-fastest time in program history and a new personal-best with a mark of 4:37.83, as she placed first. Taylor Ault added a season-best time of 4:42.08 and placed third.
Georgia Marris placed second in the 500 Free B Final with a personal-best time of 4:46.01. In the C Final, Nikki Miller and Kahra Williams finished one, two. Miller posted a season-best swim of 4:48.70 and Williams added a season-best mark of 4:49.27.
Pearl set the tone early in the 200 IM and never looked back. She recorded Florida's third-fastest time in program history with a swim of 1:55.25, as she won the A Final. Fertel improved on her Top-10 time and moved up into the fourth-fastest all time with her mark of 1:56.05.
Savanna Faulconer placed sixth in the 200 IM B Final with a season-best mark of 2:01.58. Sydney Sell won the C Final with a season-best time of 2:00.29.
In the 50 Free, Garofalo clocked an NCAA B Cut time of 22.92 and finished ninth in the A Final.
Dressel recorded an NCAA B Cut swim of 22.61 in the 50 Free B Final. Ball added an eighth-place finish with a time of 23.21. Gabby Hillis placed ninth with a mark of 23.25.
Brooke Madden compiled a total of 329.55 points as she placed third in the 3-meter. Elizabeth Perez collected a personal-best score of 325.40 and placed fifth.
Ball, Pearl, Dressel and Garofalo notched the fastest time by the Gators in the 400 Medley Relay. They combined for a swim of 3:34.59.
Team Standings
1. Florida – 360
2. Auburn – 281.5
3. South Carolina – 181.5
T4. Alabama – 181
T4. Florida State – 181
6. Virginia Tech – 161
7. North Carolina – 160
8. Georgia Tech – 125
9. Florida Gulf Coast – 93
10. East Carolina – 62
Up Next
- Day two of the Georgia Tech Invite takes place Friday, Nov. 16
- Prelims begin at 10 a.m. with the finals starting at 5:30 p.m.
200 medley relay
400 IM
100 fly
200 free
100 breast
100 back
Women's diving
Men's diving
800 free relay
Follow the Gators
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