ATHENS, Ga. — Six LSU swimmers have one final official competition to solidify their hopes for a NCAA Championship berth as the two-day Bulldog Invitational gets underway from Georgia’s Gabrielsen Natatorium on Saturday.
“The Last Chance” meet features time trials for those swimmers on the bubble with NCAA provisional cuts in qualifying for respective events.
Morning prelims are scheduled for 9 a.m. CST, followed by a finals session at 5 p.m. CST.
“It is a good format in that it gives our swimmers multiple chances to swim solid times,” said head coach Adam Schmitt. “Also, being able to go maybe one or two events will give them a better opportunity of being successful as opposed to a four-day meet we went through at the SEC Championships.”
Of the six, three are freshmen seeking to advance in their first seasons at LSU. Berit Aljand currently owns a “B” cut time in the 200 backstroke (2:01.44), and Katie Gilmore looks to improve on her 50 freestyle mark of 23.45, she attained at the SEC Championships. Gilmore is one of three Lady Tiger swimmers with NCAA provisional times in the 50 free.
Julius Gloeckner enters the meet with four NCAA “B” cut times. Gloeckner, who has been one of the Tigers’ steadiest swimmers all season, is trying to reach the championships in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 butterfly and 400 IM.
Colleen Bertirotti takes a 50 free time of 23.04 into the weekend. The automatic qualifying clocking for the event is 22.88, and the provisional mark is 23.56.
Heather Brand, LSU’s only women’s qualifier last season, is aiming for faster times in the 50 and 100 free. The senior already owns a “B” cut in the 100 fly, after swimming a time of 55.10 at the SEC Championships.
Sophomore Kevin Braud is the Tigers’ leading backstroke swimmer this season. Braud is slated to swim both the 100 and 200 back this weekend.
The Women’s NCAA Championships get underway on March 16 from the same site as this weekend, and Schmitt believes it is an advantage to know the setting this weekend.
“It is a great chance for our swimmers to get used to the pool,” said Schmitt. “Those who qualify on the women’s side will be here again in nearly three weeks.”
The Men’s NCAA Championships take place March 23-25 in Atlanta, Ga.