Gamecocks Add Another Four A-Finalists on Day Two of NIC

CLEVELAND, Ohio- South Carolina men’s and women’s swimming tallied an additional four A-finalists with its first event winner of the week as Emma Otten took first-place in the women’s 100 backstroke on the second day of the National Invitational Championship.

Otten qualified for two A-finals during the second day of prelims, swimming a 53.80 to qualify fifth in the 100 fly. She followed up with a 53.84 to win her prelim heat and qualify atop the women’s 100 back.  Otten later went on to finish in a tie for seventh in the 100 fly (54.22) before winning the women’s 100 back with a finals time of 53.96.

Will Riggs went 48.04 in prelims of the men’s 100 butterfly and dropped .02 off of his time during the finals session to finish the event in fifth-place. 

Phil Costin had the best showing for Carolina in Friday’s freestyle events, finishing fifth in the men’s 200 free.  Cositn put up a 1:38.45 during prelims and followed up with a 1:36.85 to just outouch a TCU swimmer for fifth.

 The Gamecocks had a pair of top-10 relay swims on the night, both coming in the 800 free relay.  Costin, Tamas Novoszath, Robbie Epler and Ben Fenwick combined for a 6:33.06, with Fenwick bringing home a 1:37.72 on the final 200 to give the Gamecocks a third-place finish.

The women’s 800 free relay team of Mari Kraus, Ayris Akbay, Haley Arner and Emma Walker closed the night with a sixth-place finish for Carolina, finishing the race at 7:22.98.

Day three will conclude the National Invitational Championship from the Robert F. Bubsey Natatorium.  Prelims will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET, followed by finals at 6 p.m. ET.

Day 3 Schedule of Events:
– 1000/1650 freestyle
– 100 Individual Medley
– 200 Backstroke
– 100 Freestyle
– 200 Breaststroke
– 200 Butterfly
– 400 Freestyle Relay