Tar Heels Continue Strong Showing At GT Invite

Saturday, November 23

Atlanta, Ga.

All Day

North Carolina

Georgia Tech Invitational

Emma Cole had a standout day for Carolina on Saturday.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 23, 2019 | Swimming & Diving

Saturday Results Sunday Heat Sheets

ATLANTA --- Emma Cole won the 200 freestyle and swam the first leg on the triumphant 800 freestyle relay to lead the North Carolina swimming and diving teams on day two of the Georgia Tech Invitational Saturday at the McAuley Aquatic Center. The Carolina women remain in second place with 714.5 points, trailing only No. 1 Florida. A runner-up showing in the men's 800 freestyle relay and a third-place finish by Valdas Abaliksta in the 100 breaststroke paced the Tar Heel men, who sit in third in the team competition.

"Today was another strong day for the Tar Heels," head coach Mark Gangloff said. "Both the swimmers and divers stepped up with solid performances. I'm proud of how far our team has come over the past several months. We need to keep the momentum going into the second half of the season, but before we do we have to finish off with a great last day tomorrow."

Cole touched the wall in 1:45.31 to win the 200 free by almost two seconds. The time was a new personal best for the junior and currently ranks as the third-fastest time in the country this season. Cole then teamed with Bryanna Cameron, Sophie Lindner and Heidi Lowe to take the 800 free relay in 7:08.37, the nation's top time.

Other top-three finishers for the UNC women were Lilly Higgs and Caroline Hauder, who went 2-3 in the 100 breast, and Emily Grund, who took third in the 3-meter springboard competition.

Abaliksta swam a season-best 53.30 in the prelims of the 100 breast before finishing third in the final in 53.35. The Carolina men closed the night with a runner-up showing in the 800 free relay, as Dimitrios Dimitriou, Tomas Sungaila, Jack Messenger and Daniel Koenigsperger posted a season-best time of 6:29.82 that currently ranks second nationally.

Action concludes Sunday with prelims starting at 10 a.m. Live coverage will once again be streamed on ACC Network Extra.