Gardner-Webb Swimming Trio Impresses at 2013 AT&T Winter National Championships
December 07, 2013 | Swimming
Knoxville, Tenn. - Gardner-Webb's Charity Byrum, Nathan Lile, and Giorgie Graves competed in multiple events at 2013 AT&T Winter National Championships, representing the Runnin' Bulldogs' men's and women's swimming programs well among the nation's elite at the December 5-7 meet held at the University of Tennessee.
Combined, the trio put up four season best performances, with three of those swims representing personal bests.
On Friday, Byrum (Winston-Salem, N.C.) raced to a season best time in the 100 breast, finishing at 1:02.80 and as the first alternate for finals (25th) in the event. The junior improved on her event-winning time in the 100 breast achieved at the Wingate Fall Frenzy (1:03.06).
Byrum swam her second individual event of the weekend, the 200 breast, on Saturday, starting fast for a time of 2:20.67. The time ranked 46th in the event for the sophomore, who ranks in the top 4 in the CCSA in both breaststroke events.
Lile (Waynesville, N.C.) also put up a personal best performance on Friday, time trialing the 100 fly and recording the fastest time of his career at 50.94. Lile's swim ranks fourth in the CCSA this season, joining teammates Tate Warden (50.80) and Brandon Searle (50.90) in the sub-51 club already this season.
Lile also qualified to swim the 200 back individually on Saturday, timing in at 1:51.94. The standout sophomore, who finished 46th in the 200 back with the performance, owns the fastest 200 back time in the CCSA (1:49.45).
Graves opened a breakthrough weekend with a personal best performance in the 100 fly on Friday, finishing with a time of 55.48. A sophomore from Riverview, Fla., Graves' time was 29th fastest in the event.
Graves went on to post another personal best Saturday, sprinting to a time of 51.5 in a 100 free time trial. The career best time for Graves also ranks as the sixth fastest in the CCSA this season.
