Swimming and Diving . January 16, 2021

Gamecocks Fall in Dual Meet at Nationally Ranked Georgia

South Carolina women's 200 medley relay team shines in opening race

ATHENS, Ga. — South Carolina swimming and diving fell at nationally ranked Georgia on Saturday in the team’s first meet action since facing the Bulldogs at home back on Oct. 23. The No. 3 Georgia women defeated the Gamecocks 184-116. The No. 2 Bulldog men defeated Carolina by a score of 179.5-103.5.

GAMECOCK NOTABLES

• On the women’s side South Carolina started the dual meet on a high note as freshman Bella Pantano, sophomore Taylor Steele, sophomore Janie Smith and junior Emma Walker won the 200 medley relay. Their time of 1:40.27 marks the fourth-fastest in program history.
• Steele impressed individually winning the 200 breaststroke (2:16.07) and taking second in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.03). Her time in the 100 breast surpassed All-American Emma Barksdale (1:01.31 – 1/12/19) for fifth-fastest mark all-time for the Gamecocks.
• Junior Mari Kraus continued her prowess in the 200 backstroke, winning the event for the second time in the 2020-21 season with a time of 1:58.51. Sophomore Erynn Black took second with a season-best time of 2:00.46.
• Smith (22.92), freshman Olivia McPherson (23.27) and Walker (23.52) finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the 50 freestyle. Smith’s time of 22.92 was just shy of cracking the top-ten all-time performances in program history (Anna Nyury – 22.90 in 2003 is 10^th).
• Senior Yu Qian Goh led Carolina on the diving side taking third in the 1M (271.88) and fifth in the 3M (249.75).
• On the men’s side, senior AJ Ross T-1^st in the 50 freestyle with Georgia’s Jake Magahey, swimming a season-best time of 20.53.
• Junior Phil Costin finished second in the 100 free with a time of 45.13. Ross took third with a time of 45.16.
• Sophomore Jordan Yip Zhu Ern made his debut and a solid performance talking second in the 200 breaststroke (2:00.67). He finished a fraction of a second behind Georgia’s Jack Dalmolin (2:00.27).

UP NEXT
South Carolina returns home for a Senior Day dual vs. Gardner-Webb next Thursday (Jan. 21). The meet starts at 3 p.m. ET from Carolina Natatorium. The Gamecocks will then travel to North Carolina for the regular season finale on Sunday (Jan. 24).

For more swimming updates, follow South Carolina Swimming and Diving on Twitter at @GamecockSwim.

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