ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s swimming and diving team is in fourth place after two days of competition at the Georgia Invitational. The three-day event is being held at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga.
The Yellow Jackets (335 points) trail team leader Georgia (709 points) entering the final day of competition.
Sophomore Josh Hersko continued his record-setting performance as he tied his own school record in the 200 freestyle in finishing second in the A final with a time of 1:39.22. That time also was a NCAA “B” qualifying standard for this year. Leo Salinas was eighth in that race with a time of 1:43.67.
Freshman Ricky Rauch was second in the B final with a time of 1:42.07. Itai Eden (1:43.26) and David Silver (1:44.44) placed fourth and eighth respectively in that race. Mark Campbell was fourth in the C final with a time of 1:44.16.
In the 100 back, David Laitala just missed the school record (50.40) as he placed second in the B final with a time of 50.67. Jorge Oliver was fifth in the consolation with his 52.40. Scott Lenyk won the C final in a time of 53.14 and Mike Comer was eighth in a time of 55.44.
Tech’s 800 free relay had a strong outing, as Hersko, Itai Eden, Leo Salinas and Ricky Rauch were third in a time of 6:46.02. Also among the top eight were Shilo Ayalon, Chris Biedrzycki, Campbell and David Silver in sixth place with a time of 6:51.99.
In the 100 butterfly, David Laitala was seventh in a time of 50.37. Brady Skaggs was sixth in the B final with a time of 51.61. Brendan Forbes (51.87), Charles Gersbach (52.19) and Robbie Foster (53.32), all placed in the C final.
The Jackets’ lone finalist in the 400 individual medley was Biedrzycki, who was sixth with a time of 4:01.54. Ayalon was second in the B final, with a time of 4:01.87, while Carl Nylander was seventh at 4:05.01. James Salazar (4:08.87) and Hank Longmire (4:12.46) competed in the C final.
Tomonori Tsuji was sixth in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 57.31 and Foster was eighth in the B final with at time of 59.07.
Tech’s 200 medley relay of Laitala, Tsuji, Hersko, Oliver was eighth in 1:33.95.
The Georgia Invitational concludes on Sunday with prelims beginning at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 3:00 p.m.
