ATLANTA, Ga. – Stephen Mellor broke a second school record, and hit a third NCAA ‘B’ cut, in as many days to propel NC State to a third-place finish at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday, Nov. 18. Andrew Lester also grabbed an NCAA ‘B’ standard, helping the Wolfpack grab 695 points to finish behind Florida State (928) and LSU (908).
In all, the men’s and women’s teams combined to break two school records and hit a total of five NCAA ‘B’ standards during its trip to the Peach state. Mellor broke two school records and hit three ‘B’ cuts, while Lester and Anna Linkenauger picked up one ‘B’ standard each.
Previously over the weekend Mellor set a new school record in the 200 IM (1:48.32), hitting NCAA ‘B’ cuts in that, as well as the 400 IM.
Mellor broke a second school record and hit another NCAA ‘B’ cut with a 1:44.54 in the 200-back on Sunday. That time cracks the old landmark of 1:45.54, which Mellor set back in 2006. Taylor Goodwin (7th, 1:52.17), Ben Mechak (8th, 1:52.48) and Kevin Woodhull-Smith (10th, 1:53.91) all finished in the top-10 of the event.
In the 1650-freestyle Lester took third and hit an NCAA ‘B” standard with a 15:30.85. Cole Yarborough took eighth with a 16:10.58 and Nick Brittis finished 10th on a 16:15.81. Dan Glauber swam a 46.90 in the 100-freestyle, later timing a 21.48 in the 50-freestyle swim off. Jack Roney came in fourth in the 200-breastroke with a time of 2:04.02, while Dan Forsytle (7th, 2:05.24) Danny Voss (8th, 2:07.38) and Greg Baskwell (10th, 2:09.41) rounded out the red and white in the top-10.
Five Wolfpackers placed in the top-13 of the 200-butterfly, with two coming in the top-5. Mason McGee (4th, 1:52.01) and Mike Seiferth (5th, 1:52.38) led the charge, while Tyler Mills (11th, 1:54.12) Derek Ernst (12th, 1:54.50) and Woodhull-Smith (13th, 1:55.05) had strong showings. Alex Dambly scored a 267.55 in the platform dive, good for fifth overall. In the 400-freestyle relay, the State pair of Goodwin, Allen Lee, Ernst and Andrew Keenan placed eighth on a 3:09.62
The NC State women’s swimming and diving team finished third overall. With 445 points total, State finished behind Florida State (1,127) and LSU (812). Linkenauger, who hit an NCAA ‘B’ standard on Friday with a 2:03.82 in the 200 IM, helped pace the Wolfpack above ACC squads from Duke, Miami and Georgia Tech, in addition to topping Florida Atlantic.
Jennifer Kopenitz came in second overall in the 200-backstroke with a 2:02.09, while Linkenauger (2:06.21) and Erica Smith (2:02.44) placed eighth and ninth respectively. Kopenitz later took ninth in the 200-butterfly with a 2:06.85. In the 200-breaststroke Jessica Ward (2:20.80) finished fourth, while Linkenauger (2:20.64) ended up ninth. Kristin Davies (3rd, 226.50) and Chelsea Ale (6th, 205.50) looked good on the platform dive, as Ashley Ritcher swam a 52.10 in the 100-freestyle. Davies score met a qualifier for the NCAA zone championships.
Maresa Like-Matthews (17.32.80) and Taryn Shelley (17:48.22) both competed in the 1650-freestyle, while Ritcher, Patrice Dason, Amanda Panty and Lucy Lindsey placed ninth in the 400-freestyle relay with a 3:32.12.
NC State will return to action against ACC foe Virginia Tech on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Casey Natatorium. Competition is penciled in for 1 p.m.
Courtesy: Peyton Williams/NC State
