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2016 Georgia Invite: Seliskar Tops Star-Studded 200 IM in Day 1 Prelims

2016 GEORGIA FALL INVITATIONAL

  • Friday, December 2nd-Sunday, December 4th
  • Hosted by University of Georgia
  • 25 yards
  • Invite format
  • Live results

Day 1 prelims of the 2016 Georgia Fall Invitational is in the books, and we have a huge battle set up for finals of the men’s 200 IM. Leading the stacked field this morning was Cal’s Andrew Seliskar, who posted a 1:43.40 to outswim Georgia’s Chase Kalisz (1:43.49). While they were the only men under 1:44 this morning, we can’t count out Cal’s Ryan Murphy, the 3rd place finisher at 2016 NCAAs in this race, who swam a 1:44.08 for 3rd this morning.

If that wasn’t enough star power for you, Georgia’s Gunnar Bentz and Jay Litherland will also be in the final. Litherland was 4th this morning in 1:45.21, while Bentz was 7th in 1:45.55. Georgia makes up half of the championship final tonight, as Taylor Dale was 6th with a 1:45.50.

Half of the field in the final tonight will be made up of U.S. Olympians: Kalisz, Murphy, Litherland, Bentz.

On the women’s side, the 50 free was the highlight of the morning. American Record holder Abbey Weitzeil blasted a 21.64 to take the top seed. Tying for 2nd behind her were Georgia teammates Olivia Smoliga and Chantal Van Landeghem at 21.97. Smoliga is the reigning NCAA champion in this event, so it’ll be interesting to get a first look at the matchup between Smoliga and Weitzeil, who is now in her freshman season with the Cal Bears.

Cal will be well represented in this final, with the likes of Amy Bilquist, Farida Osman, and Valerie Hull (22.43) all making it in as well. Bilquist came within hundredths of her best time this morning, clocking a 22.18 for 5th. Osman, the reigning Pac-12 Champion, nearly broke 22 this morning with a 22.05 for 4th.

Once again, half the field is made up of Olympians: Weitzeil, Smoliga, Van Landeghem, Osman.

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Joe
7 years ago

Wow Pawel Sendyk dropped from a 19.75 this morning to a 19.4 leading off the relay to a 19.1 in the final tonight. I had never heard of him before this year, but Cal’s happy to have him for three and a half more years.

Cal has a better shot of dropping Texas this year than I originally thought. Texas is still by far the favorite but a Cal win is not out of the question anymore.

Blackflag
7 years ago

1:41.26 Kalisz takes the final 200im

bob
7 years ago

Michigan has five men (Powers, Ransford, Auboeck, Al-Yamani & White) and 3 women (Smiddy, Yeo & Yeung) swimming next week at Short Course Worlds.

Not Betty
7 years ago

Go Bears!!

A non E mouse
7 years ago

Why no Paul Powers in the 50 free? Anyone know?

bob
Reply to  A non E mouse
7 years ago

Michigan has 5 men (Powers, Ransford, White, Auboeck & Al-Yamani) and 3 women (Smiddy, Yeo & Yeung) swimming at Short Course Worlds next week instead of at Georgia.Join the discussion

Person
7 years ago

I still can’t comprehend Georgia’s IM group, it’s insane… kind of like Texas’ 200 free actually.

PKWater
Reply to  Person
7 years ago

Kind of like Cal’s IM group last year lol

WolfPack
Reply to  PKWater
7 years ago

Kind of like NC State sprint group every year. BOOM. How about that STATEment

weirdo
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

except this year

weirdo
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

this year?

Rookery
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

It’s erroneous

JP name too short
Reply to  Person
7 years ago

Kinda like Stanford’s distance group this year. Between those two and Texas’s 100 fly, that’s three groups who could conceivably put 3 guys in an A final at NCAAs.

Not quite Texas’s NCAA 100 fly final-turned-intrasquad meet a couple years ago, but still…

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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