2022 NC STATE/GAC INVITATIONAL
- November 17-19, 2022
- Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
- SCY (25 yards)
- Live Results on MeetMobile
TEAMS
- NC State
- Stanford
- Arizona State
- Duke
- Penn State
- Army
- George Washington (diving only)
- UNC Asheville (diving only)
The 2022 NC State/GAC Invite kicks off this morning at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. This morning’s prelims session will feature the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, women’s 3-meter diving, and men’s 1-meter diving. The 200 free relay and 400 medley relay will also be competed in tonight’s finals session.
WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:35.76
- Pool Record: 4:29.54, Katie Ledecky (2014)
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Natalie Mannion (STAN) – 4:42.95
- Morgan Tankersley (STAN) – 4:44.21
- Aurora Roghair (STAN) – 4:45.10
- Lindsay Looney (ASU) – 4:45.45
- Yara Hierath (NCS) – 4:46.45
- Emma Hastings (NCS) – 4:46.47
- Lillie Nordmann (STAN) – 4:47.17
- Charlotte Hook (STAN) – 4:47.29
Stanford freshman Natalie Mannion ripped a new personal best this morning, swimming a 4:42.95 to lead the field. Mannion’s previous best in the event stood at 4:45.20 from the 2021 Winter Junior East Championships last December. She held her pace exceptionally well this morning, splitting 53.77 on the first 100, then going 57.16, 57.36, 57.57, and 57.09 respectively the rest of the way.
Notably, Stanford teammate Morgan Tankersley was second this morning but has the fastest personal best in the field by far. Tankersley has been as fast as 4:35.99, a time which she swam at the 2020 Pac-12 Championships. She was 4:44.21 this morning, indicating she may have held back a bit for tonight’s final.
Stanford had a great showing in this first event, as Aurora Roghair, Lillie Nordmann, and Charlotte Hook each made it into the ‘A’ final as well.
MEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:11.40
- Pool Record: 4:07.97, Jake Magahey (2021)
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Ross Dant (NCS) – 4:16.46
- Preston Forst (STAN) – 4:17.93
- Julian Hill (ASU) – 4:18.44
- Will Gallant (NCS) – 4:18.61
- Andrew Gray (ASU) – 4:19.27
- Daniel Matheson (ASU) – 4:19.48
- Ron Polonsky (STAN) – 4:20.64
- James Plage (NCS) – 4:21.17
In what has been the fastest prelims of the men’s 500 free we’ve seen at any of the mid-season invites so far, NC State’s Ross Dant led the field with a 4:16.46. It was a solid morning swim for Dant, whose personal best sits at 4:10.35 from the 2022 ACC Championships.
In a tight field, five other swimmers were under 4:20 this morning, all of whom have also been under 4:15 in the event before.
WOMEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:53.66
- Pool Record: 1:51.36, Kate Douglass (2020)
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Sarah Foley (DUKE) – 1:55.62
- Torri Huske (STAN) – 1:55.89
- Abby Arens (NCS) – 1:57.04
- Kennedy Noble (NCS) – 1:57.82
- Grace Sheble (NCS) – 1:58.30
- Charli Brown (ASU) – 1:58.53
- Ieva Maluka (ASU) – 1:58.54
- Lucy Bell (STAN) – 1:59.07
Duke’s Sarah Foley led the field in prelims this morning, clocking a season best by nearly four seconds. Foley’s 1:55.62 was fueled in large part by an excellent back half, which featured a 33.06 breast split and 27.87 free split, for a 1:00.93 on the second 100.
Stanford’s Torri Huske got out to a fast start, splitting 24.04 on fly and 28.67 on back, for a sizzling 52.71 on the first 100 of the race. She held strong with a 33.87 breast split, but clearly left a little in the tank on freestyle, only splitting 29.31.
Two huge season bests led to ASU getting a pair of swimmers into tonight’s ‘A’ final. Charli Brown took four seconds off her season best, posting a 1:58.53 for sixth this morning. Ieva Maluka took 4.65 seconds off her season best, swimming a 1:58.54 for seventh.
MEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:41.22
- Pool Record: 1:39.53, Shaine Casas (2021)
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Leon Marchand (ASU) – 1:41.00
- Grant House (ASU) – 1:44.21
- Jonny Affeld (STAN) – 1:45.20
- Luke Maurer (STAN) – 1:45.28
- Zhier Fan (STAN) – 1:45.36
- Arsenio Bustos (NCS) – 1:45.46
- Mikey Moore (NCS) – 1:45.61
- Alexander Colson (ASU) – 1:45.75
In one of the most anticipated swims of the day, Leon Marchand clocked the fastest time in the field this morning by an order of magnitude. Marchand swam a 1:41.00, swimming very well in the middle of the race. He was 24.73 on backstroke and 28.75 on breaststroke, which comes out to 53.48 on the middle 100. Notably, Marchand was only 25.44 on the final 50 of the race this morning, indicating he probably has m0ore in the tank for tonight.
ASU had a pair of swimmers outside of Marchand advance to the ‘A’ final. Grant House came in second at 1:44.21, while Alexander Colson touched eighth with a 1:45.75.
Stanford had a trio of swimmers nearly tie this morning. Jonny Affeld, Luke Maurer, and Zhier Fan were all within 0.16 seconds of each other.
NC State freshman Michael Cotter narrowly missed out on advancing to the ‘A’ final, swimming a 1:45.76 for ninth, which was 0.01 seconds off what it took to finish eighth.
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 21.66
- Pool Record: 21.09, Kate Douglass (2021)
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Torri Huske (STAN) – 21.66
- Claire Curzan (STAN) – 21.78
- Kylee Alons (NCS) – 21.99
- Taylor Ruck (STAN) – 22.08
- Katharine Berkoff (NCS) – 22.22
- Abby Arens (NCS) – 22.38
- Emma Wheal (STAN) – 22.42
- Amy Tang (STAN) – 22.70
Stanford’s Torri Huske and Claire Curzan led the way in prelims of the women’s 50 free this morning, swimming 21.66 and 21.78 respectively. NC State’s Kylee Alons was also under 22 seconds, swimming a 21.99 for third.
With Taylor Ruck and Katharine Berkoff also in the field, this ought to be a thrilling race tonight.
LSU’s Maggie MacNeil set the tone last night at the Art Adamson Invite, swimming a 21.03 50 free, which marks the fastest time in the NCAA this season. It may be a stretch for Huske or Curzan to dip that low tonight, but time will tell.
Notably, Huske and Abby Arens both swam the 200 IM as well this morning, qualifying for the ‘A’ final there as well.
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.88
- Pool Record: 18.33, Ryan Hoffer (2021)
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- David Curtiss (NCS) – 19.14
- Jack Dolan (ASU) – 19.32
- Max McCusker (ASU) – 19.37
- Nyls Korstanje (NCS) – 19.40
- Victor Baganha (PSU) – 19.45
- Quintin McCarty (NCS) – 19.53
- Noah Henderson (NCS) – 19.59
- Luke Maurer (STAN) – 19.64
David Curtiss led the field in the 50 free this morning, swimming a 19.14. It was a solid morning swim for Curtiss, whose personal best of 18.74 was set at the ACC Championships last season.
Stanford’s Luke Maurer had already qualified for the ‘A’ final in the 200 IM this morning, then turned around and came in eighth in the 50 this morning, swimming a 19.64.
Pretty cool moment for the Curzan family to have Claire back in the pool she grew up competing in for her first significant NCAA meet representing Stanford.
No Minakov?
I think Russia announced he was coming back home for their championships.
NC States live reporting of this meet is so far very poor. With no way to access live results or full results on a computer!
Taylor Ruck a half second faster then she was in prelims last year. Good signs!
Is there a livestream anywhere?
The live stream is supposed to be on the Meet Manager on cell phones but not sure of what is the name of the meet on Meet Manager.
Leon Marchand 1:41.00, Last year he was 1:43.92 in prelims and 1:40.80 in finals
He is gonna do some special stuff this year.
Natalie Mannion is listed as (NCS) in the results but Stanford in the paragraph below.
Wondering if Stanford seniors will do a 5th year…? Crage, Crisera, and Wheal all are 4th years right now and have had a huge impact on the team these last 4 seasons.