The Alabama swimming and diving teams are in Blacksburg, Virginia this week to compete in the H2Okie Fall Invitational at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. Competition starts Thursday and runs through Saturday.
For the first time this season, the Crimson Tide steps outside of dual meet competition and into a format far more similar to the championship season with prelims and finals each day. Alabama will compete against Villanova, South Carolina, William & Mary, Ohio University, Liberty as well as home standing Virginia Tech, as they look to build momentum heading into the winter training portion of the season.
“We’re looking forward to standing up and competing this weekend,” UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. “Not only are looking forward to some great competition, but this weekend gives us a chance to compete in a championship format, which will help us down the road.”
The Tide continues to maintain a strong presence in the nation’s top 25 times this season. With three sub 20 second times this season, sophomore NCAA champion Kristian Gkolomeev has the No. 1 time in the nation in the 50 freestyle after swimming a 19.65 against Auburn and LSU. Gkolomeev will lead the way when it comes to the sprint events, as well as the Tide’s relays.
A pair of backstroke specialists, sophomore Connor Oslin and freshman Luke Kaliszak, continue to rank in the top 15 nationally in the 100 backstroke.
On the women’s side of the slate, senior All-American Kaylin Burchell has top 25 national times in both breaststroke races. Burchell, along with sophomore Bonnie Macdonald, who has a top 15 time in the 1650 freestyle, and freshman Mia Nonnenberg, who has the ninth ranked time in the 400 IM, will look to pace the Tide.
College Swimming News courtesy of the University of Alabama.