COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Sophomore Julius Gloeckner won the 500 freestyle and the LSU men captured both Friday relays leading the Tigers into first place after the first day of competition at the Art Adamson Invitational.
The LSU men hold a two-point advantage on host and 25th-ranked Texas A&M, 314-312. SMU sits in third with 295 points followed by Pacific with 211 points.
“We had a sluggish morning but we came back focused during the evening,” said head coach Adam Schmitt. “It is a good sign to see us continue to get better and better as the season goes on with faster times. To be in first place after the first day, displays that we are bonding and growing as a team.”
Meanwhile, the LSU women are in fourth place after Friday’s events with 105 points. The Aggies hold the top spot with 361 points, followed by No. 10 Michigan (282) and No. 7 SMU (177). Illinois is in fifth with 90 points, and Pacific holds the sixth position with 66 points.
Gloeckner won the 500 with an NCAA provisional time of 4:23.62, and with no rest, came back to finish fourth in the 200 individual medley in a mark of 1:50.36. Freshman Will Rivers posted the fourth-fastest 500 free time in school history in taking runner-up honors of the championship final.
The men opened with a first-place swim in the 200 free relay (1:21.10) and later took top honors in the 400 medley relay by .02 in an NCAA provisional cut of 3:17.58. The time in the 400 medley relay was sparked by a leadoff backstroke of 48.92 by junior Kevin Braud.
LSU earned its highest point totals by taking 2-3-4 in the 50 free led by a second-place finish from junior Miko Malberg (20.15). Sophomore Christoph Lubenau was third (20.98) and Connor Farber was fourth (21.00) with all three finishes coming in the championship final.
On the women’s side, sophomore Katie Gilmore shattered the school record in the women’s 50 free, posting a time of 22.89 to break teammate Colleen Bertirotti‘s old mark. Gilmore’s clocking was the second-fastest time swam out of all three finals heats as she won the consolation final. She also led the Lady Tigers to third place in the 200 free relay (1:32.26) with a split of 22.49.
In diving, senior Hali Saucier won the women’s 1-meter with a score of 314.75 after posting a mark of 294.20 in the prelims.
Sophomore Nathan Schreiber was second in the men’s 1-meter with a score of 306.50 in the finals. Schreiber qualified for the evening session with a score of 309.45 in the prelims. Senior Andrew Keane was fourth (251.90) and freshman Kalister Harmon finished fifth (250.50).
2006 Art Adamson Invitational
Texas A&M Student Recreation Center Natatorium
College Station, Texas
Men’s Team Standings (After Day 1)
1. LSU — 314
2. Texas A&M — 312
3. SMU — 295
4. Pacific — 211
Women’s Team Standings (After Day 1)
1. Texas A&M — 361
2. Michigan — 282
3. SMU — 177
4. LSU — 105
5. Illinois — 90
6. Pacific — 66
Saturday’s Schedule of Events
Prelims begin at 10 a.m. Finals begin at 6 p.m.
200-yard Medley Relay
400-yard Individual Medley
100-yard Butterfly
200-yard Freestyle
100-yard Breaststroke
100-yard Backstroke
3-Meter Diving
800-yard Freestyle Relay