March 27, 2015
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Georgia Tech’s Andrew Kosic earned All-American honors for the second consecutive season as the senior placed fifth in the 50 free on the opening night of the NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship Thursday at the University of Iowa.
The Yellow Jackets are 18th overall in the team standings after the first day with 14 points and Tech is one of seven ACC teams in the standings. NC State is 11th, Miami is 13th, North Carolina is 16th, Louisville is 23rd, Virginia Tech is 26th and Florida State in 29th.
Kosic broke his own Tech record in the 50 free twice on Thursday, putting down a time of 19.11 on the lead-off leg of the 200 free relay, then posting the sixth-fastest prelim time in the 50 free of 19.10.
In the championship final of the 50 free on Thursday night, Kosic touched in a time of 19.18, which was good for fifth overall and locked up his All-American status in the event for the second straight season. Last year, the West Chester, Pa., native finished 15th overall in a time of 19.42.
“So proud of our team today,” said head coach Courtney Shealy Hart. “Kosic was just unbelievable, breaking the school record twice in the 50 free. Our 200 free relay was the second-fastest in school history and Brad did a god job at his first NCAAs. We’re really looking forward to keeping this momentum going tomorrow.”
Florida’s Caleb Dressel was the national champion in the 50 free, touching the wall in 18.47 – two-tenth shy of the NCAA record. Alabama’s Kristian Gkolomeev (18.74) was second, while Brad Tandy from Arizona and NC State’s Simonas Bilis tied for third (18.91). It was the first time since 2009 that four men broke the 19-second mark in the 50 free.
Tech’s 200 medley relay of Kosic, junior Youssef Hammoud, freshman Noah Harasz and senior Nico van Duijn clocked in at 1:18.16, which was good for 18th overall.
Sophomore diver Brad Homza made his NCAA Championship debut on the 1m springboard and scored 303.95 in the preliminary round, which was good for 37th overall. The top-16 moved on to the finals.
Friday’s action for Tech includes Kosic in the 100 fly and the 800 free relay.
