The Emory University swimming teams, fresh off their 26th consecutive University Athletic Association championships, were back in the pool Friday evening in the first session of the Emory Invitational in Atlanta. The Eagles are playing host to six schools this weekend in a final attempt qualifier for next month's nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The first session featured some standout performances from the Eagles as several swimmers turned in NCAA B Cuts as well as season-best efforts.
For the women, senior Maddie Palatt and freshman Stephanie Lee were event winners with Palatt taking first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:07.58 and in the 50 Free, Lee outraced several of her Emory teammates to win the event with a time of 23.88. Sophomore Natalie Boorjian added one of three NCAA B Cuts for the women as she turned in a time of 4:59.26 in the 500 Freestyle.
As the meet shifted to time trials a pair of Eagles notched NCAA qualifying marks in the 200 Fly as both sophomore Katherine Swan (2:03.09) and senior Rosalie Gaudiani (2:04.43) registered season-best times.
For the Emory men, senior Jason Amato placed third in the 500 Freestyle at 4:39.28 as did junior Sven Becker in the 200 IM with a time of 1:50.92. Freshman Connor McHugh added a fourth place finish in the 50 Free as he touched in a time of 20.76.
In time trials, the Eagles saw a trio of athletes register season-best marks. In the 200 Freestyle, senior Alexander Pollack posted a time of 1:38.67 while freshman Evan Prabhu touched at 1:39.36. Both times represented NCAA B Cuts. Over in the 200 Fly, freshman Michael Kaiser notched a season-best time as he swam a 1:48.62 for a NCAA qualifying mark.
The Emory February Invitational continues on Saturday with sessions getting underway at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
