The Emory University swimming & diving teams returned to the pool Friday evening with the first session of its home last chance invitational, with one last opportunity to improve their times before nationals. The Eagles are playing host to athletes from seven different programs for the two-day, three-session meet with Berry College, Salem College, Texas Permian Basin, Carson Newman, Catawba, Wingate and Mars Hill traveling to Atlanta for the meet.

During the first session on Friday, the Eagles seized three first place finishes and posted seven NCAA B Cuts times across the races and time trials.

For the women, sophomores Meredith Liu and Isabel Huang captured first place efforts with Liu going under five minutes to win the 500 Freestyle at 4:57.52 and Huang dropping a 23.82 to win the 50 Freestyle. Both times represented new season-best marks for the swimmers and for Liu, it was under the NCAA B Cut mark for the event.

The Eagles also saw two NCAA B Cuts turned in during time trials with junior Rosalie Gaudiani slashing 0.86 off her 100 Fly time with a season-best mark of 55.49 and in the 200 Breaststroke, junior Ali Kaiser cutting 2.58 off her mark as she went for a 2:18.68.

For the men, senior Will Kerscher took first in the 200 IM, doing so with a NCAA B Cut of 1:50.22. Kerscher was one of four NCAA B Cuts recorded by the men on day one with the three additional ones coming in time trials.

Junior Zachary Zhao had a season-best time in the 400 IM, dropping 1.10 seconds as he touched with a time of 3:55.34. In the 100 Fly, junior Dylan Yin added a season-best time of his own at 47.94 and in the 100 Breaststroke, junior Anderson Holcomb went for 55.50.

The Emory February Invitational continues Saturday with two sessions at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM.