Florida Dives Back Into Pool for Georgia Tech Invitational
Friday, November 18, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The Gators are back in action this weekend after a week off of competition when they head to Atlanta, Ga., for the Georgia Tech Invitational. Florida will swim against nine other programs in Clemson, Emory, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech.
The three-day meet will be run in a prelim and finals format. It is set to begin on Friday, Nov. 18 and conclude on Sunday, Nov. 20. Friday and Saturday's prelims are slated to begin at 10 a.m., with finals set to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday's prelims will take place at 9 a.m., with finals to start at 3 p.m. Diving events will take place each day of the invitational with the women and men alternating 1- and 3-meter competition on Friday and Saturday. Platform diving for both men and women will take place on Sunday.
This weekend will mark the third consecutive year that Florida has competed at the Georgia Tech Invitational. Last year the men took the No. 2 spot behind in-state rival Florida State, while the women finished third in the overall team standings behind Texas A&M and Florida State. In the three years that the Gators have traveled to Atlanta for the meet, they have not landed higher than second place.
The Gators enter the weekend with some well deserved rest. The women have had the week off after a period that saw them face FSU, Michigan and Stanford in a matter of just four days. While the men have had a less trying schedule, they are eager to jump back into the pool and race.
The men are led by freshman Matt Elliott (Peoria, Ill.) who has three times in the top-five nationally. The two-time SEC freshman of the week leads all NCAA swimmers in the 400 IM (3:50.96), is the third fastest swimmer nationally in the 200 IM (1:48.49) and fourth fastest in the 200 breast (1:58.41). He is backed by sophomore Marcin Cieslak (Warsaw, Poland) who stands second nationally in both the 200 fly (1:47.31) and IM (1:48.49) events
The women's squad is headed by freshman Elizabeth Beisel (North Kingstown, R.I.) and senior Sarah Bateman (Orlando, Fla.). Together, the duo has recorded four nation-leading, and four top-five times in collegiate swimming on the year.
Beisel, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, leads all swimmers nationally in the 1,650 free (16:09.89), 200 back (1:54.44), and both the 200 (1:58.05) and 400 IM (4:07.92). She is also the third fastest swimmer in the 500 free with a 4:42.00 mark. Bateman, stands second nationally in the 100 fly with a time of 53.27, and third in both the 50 (22.35) and 100 free (49.02).
Florida also brings with it the fastest 800 free relay quartet in the country, for both the men and women, that has stopped the clock in 6:45.52 and 7:16.23, respectively.
Live results for the Georgia Tech Invitational can be found by following this link.
Please check GatorZone for daily updates from the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, Ga. Fans are encouraged to follow the swimming and diving program on Twitter or Facebook.
MEET INFORMATION
Georgia Tech's Campus Recreation Center – Aquatic Center
Friday, Nov. 18
10:00 a.m. – Prelims
6:00 p.m. – Finals
| Women's Event # | Distance | Men's Event # | Distance |
| 1 | 200 Free Relay | 2 | 200 Free Relay |
| 3 | 500 Free | 4 | 500 Free |
| 5 | 200 IM | 6 | 200 IM |
| 7 | 50 Free | 8 | 50 Free |
| 9 | 1 Meter Diving | 10 | 3 Meter Diving |
| 11 | 400 Medley Relay | 12 | 400 Medley Relay |
Saturday, Nov. 19
10:00 a.m. – Prelims
6:00 p.m. – Finals
| Women's Event # | Distance | Men's Event # | Distance |
| 13 | 200 Medley Relay | 14 | 200 Medley Relay |
| 15 | 400 IM | 16 | 400 IM |
| 17 | 100 Fly | 18 | 100 Fly |
| 19 | 200 Free | 20 | 200 Free |
| 21 | 100 Breast | 22 | 100 Breast |
| 23 | 100 Back | 24 | 100 Back |
| 25 | 3 Meter Diving | 26 | 1 Meter Diving |
| 27 | 800 Free Relay | 28 | 800 Free Relay |
Sunday, Nov. 20
9:00 a.m. – Prelims
3:00 p.m. – Finals
| Women's Event # | Distance | Men's Event # | Distance |
| 29 | 1,650 Free | 30 | 1,650 Free |
| 31 | 200 Back | 32 | 200 Back |
| 33 | 100 Free | 34 | 100 Free |
| 35 | 200 Breast | 36 | 200 Breast |
| 37 | 200 Fly | 38 | 200 Fly |
| 39 | Platform Diving | 40 | Platform Diving |
| 41 | 400 Free Relay | 42 | 400 Free Relay |
