Alabama's Aquatic Center witnessed a remarkable display of prowess as the Crimson Tide dominated Georgia Tech in a home sweep, securing four new pool records in the process. The women's and men's teams showcased their strength, with the women's team achieving a score of 233 and the men's team securing 205 points.
The women's team was led by senior Emily Jones, who set three new pool records. She broke the 100 backstroke record with a time of 51.29, surpassing Gemma Spofforth's 2008 mark of 51.57. Jones also contributed to the 400 medley relay, which set a new pool record with a time of 3:29.67, comprising Jada Scott, Gaby Van Brunt, Cadence Vincent, and Jones herself. The team's success continued with Jones' involvement in the 200 free relay, where they clocked an impressive 1:27.53, breaking the previous team record.
Mackenzie Brandt, another senior, made her mark in the 1000 free, finishing in 9:41.85, a substantial 15 seconds ahead of her teammate, Stella Watts. Brandt's dominance continued with a double win in the 500 free, touching the wall first in 4:43.56. Rin Drudge swept the diving events, securing top scores in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions for Alabama.
Tessa Giele, a newcomer to the team, achieved two individual NCAA qualifying times, placing second in both the 50 free (22.21) and 100 butterfly (52.19). Vivien Rothwell from Georgia Tech made a notable improvement, lowering her 100 backstroke school record by a significant margin, finishing just behind Jones.
The men's team also made their mark on the record books. Tommy Hagar, a junior, led the 400 medley relay, which clocked an impressive 3:07.28, surpassing Florida's 2008 time of 3:08.57. Sean Niewold, making his collegiate debut, secured an individual win in the 50 free, stopping the clock at 19.52. He also finished third in the 100 free.
Hagar's prowess continued with a pair of 200-yard race wins. In the 200 free, he finished ahead of Adam Varga in 1:35.09, and later dominated the 200 back, winning by over a second with a time of 1:41.07. The Crimson Tide's dominance in the 500 free was evident as they achieved a 1-2-3 sweep, with Leonardo Alcantara leading the pack in 4:16.56.
Lance Thompson, a junior, demonstrated his skill in the 400 IM, finishing five seconds ahead of Berk Erturk from Georgia Tech. The men's 200 free relay closed the meet on a high note, with Niewold, Tim Korstanje, Drayden Bell, and Zarek Wilson combining for a winning time of 1:17.44.
Despite Alabama's impressive performance, Georgia Tech's Tobin Uhl emerged victorious in the 200 breast, clocking 1:58.09, extending his undefeated record in the event for the season. Max Fowler, a junior, swept the diving events for Georgia Tech, securing top scores in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions, with his 1-meter score ranking 8th all-time in program history.
