No. 7/8 Georgia Earns Four A-Cuts on Opening Day of Georgia Invite

Thursday, November 16

Athens, Ga.

9:30 a.m. (Prelims) | 5:30 p.m. (Finals)

University of Georgia

Georgia Invitational

Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA

No. 7/8 Georgia Earns Four A-Cuts on Opening Day of Georgia Invite

November 16, 2023 | Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

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ATHENS, Ga. – A scorching relay and outstanding performances by the distance group helped power the University of Georgia swimming and diving teams to a strong first day of competition at the Georgia Fall Invitational Thursday at Bauerle Pool at Gabrielsen Natatorium.

Senior Jake Magahey posted the nation's fastest time this season in the 500-yard freestyle with an A-cut time of 4:10.60. Sophomore Sam Powe placed sixth in the event with a personal-best B-cut time of 4:16.35. Graduate Bradley Dunham won the 'C' final with a season-best B-cut of 4:18.80.

Earlier in the women's 500y freestyle, junior Rachel Stege challenged the school record with a second-place A-cut of 4:32.87, the third-fastest time in school history. Fellow junior Duné Coetzee followed in third with a personal-best A-cut of 4:35.29, the sixth-fastest time in program history. In prelims, Coetzee posted the then-fastest time nationally with an A-cut of 4:35.72. Elsewhere in the 500 free, junior Abby McCulloh finished fifth with a B-cut of 4:38.14, followed by senior Sloane Reinstein in seventh at 4:39.15, while sophomore Shea Furse notched a PB B-cut of 4:42.26.

The Georgia men's sprint group turned in an impressive outing, beginning with a second-place A-cut of 1:16.29 in the 200y freestyle relay posted by graduate Dillon Downing, junior Reese Branzell, graduate Miles Simon, and sophomore Ruard van Renen. Later, in the 50y freestyle, Downing took third with a season-best B-cut of 19.31, while Branzell finished fifth with a PB of 19.41, the third-fastest time in school history. With a PB of 19.53, van Renen moved into sixth all-time, while Simon cracked the top 10 at eighth with his prelims time of 19.60.

In the women's 50y freestyle, freshman Helena Jones finished fourth with a personal-best B-cut of 22.37. Jones led off the Bulldogs' fourth place 200y freestyle relay with a 22.60 split, joining teammates Briana Roberson, Julianna Stephens, and Zoie Hartman for a B-cut of 1:29.16. In the women's 200y IM, Hartman placed second with a season-best B-cut of 1:54.49, while fellow fifth-year Zach Hils took third in the men's event with a season-best B-cut of 1:43.63. Fifth-year Ian Grum posted a personal-best time of 1:44.15 in 10^th place.

At the diving well, senior Meghan Wenzel finished third on 1-meter with a season-best score of 302.60, while sophomore Hannah Stumpf finished 11^th at 268.20. On 3-meter, junior Rhett Hopkins finished seventh with a mark of 331.65, following a PB of 367.85 in prelims. Fellow junior Nolan Lewis placed 10^th at 336.50, followed by Allen Mann in 13^th at 318.15.

The Georgia Fall Invitational continues Friday with the 200y medley relay, 400y individual medley, 100y butterfly, 200y freestyle, 100y breaststroke, 100y backstroke, women's 3-meter diving, men's 1-meter diving, and 800y freestyle relay. Swimming prelims begin at 9:30 a.m. EST, followed by diving prelims and consolation finals at 11:30 a.m. and all finals at 5:30 p.m. Live coverage of all competition is available to paid subscribers on SEC Network+, with live results available to paid subscribers on the MeetMobile app.