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ATLANTA, Ga. – The Virginia Tech swimming and diving program turned in a strong first day at the Yellow Jacket Invitational Friday in Georgia Tech’s Campus Recreation Center. The H₂Okie men sit third with a score of 298.5, while the women are fourth with 216.5 overall points.

The University of Florida leads the invitational on both sides and Florida State sits second in both the men and women. Tech women follow close behind Georgia Tech, while the men are four points behind the Seminoles.

Also competing in the invitational is Miami, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida Atlantic, Clemson, Auburn and Alabama.

The Tech men notched eight top-10 performances, including two first-place finishes. The H₂Okie women recorded five top-10 performances, with a first and second place finish on the day. In every event Tech recorded at least one season-best.

The women started the day off strong, recording a sixth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay from the quartet of Sabrina Benson, Margaret Parcell, Emily Ferguson and Heather Savage. Their time of 1:34.10 is the fastest they have swam this season.

The ‘A’ team of Emmett Dignan, Greg Morgan, Gregory Mahon and Zach McGinnis followed the women, coming in fourth with a season-best of 1:21.94 in the men’s 200 freestyle relay.

In the third race of the day, senior Erika Hajnal touched the wall first with a season-best 4:41.56 in the 500 freestyle. Her first-place finish qualifies her for the NCAA B standards.

In the men’s 500 freestyle, Jake Ores and Morgan Latimer placed in the top-10 coming in at ninth and 10^th place, respectively. Ores notched a personal-best 4:31.78, while Latimer followed with a time of 4:35.70.

Mahon recorded a big finish in the 200 IM, coming in third and qualifying for the NCAA B standards with a time of 1:48.98. Five other H₂Okies recorded top-20 finishes as well.

In the men’s 50 freestyle, McGinnis recorded a personal-best 20.74 to earn an eighth-place finish, while Dignan followed behind coming in 10^th with a time of 20.89. Dignan recorded a personal-best in the preliminaries with a time of 20.85.

In diving competition, Kaylea Arnett continues to impress, coming in second in the 1-meter event with a new personal-best 303.60. Logan Kline followed close behind in third place with a score of 302.80.

In the men’s 1-meter, Logan Shinholser took home the title with a season-best 383.90. Kyle Butts and Ryan Hawkins placed fifth and sixth, respectively. Butts marked a personal-best 346.80, while Hawkins recorded a score of 345.25.

In the final two events of the day, the Tech women (Benson, Keri Sink, Meaghan Holloway and Savage) placed fourth in the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:45.78, while the men’s team of McGinnis, Nathan Hoisington, Mahon and Morgan ended on a high note, coming in first with a season-best 3:15.62.

Day two of the Yellow Jacket Invitational will begin Saturday with preliminaries starting at 9 a.m. and finals following at 3 p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center.

For updates on Virginia Tech swimming & diving, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_SwimDive).