PRINCETON, N.J. — Junior sprinter Albert Gwo raced his way to a new school record in the 50-yard freestyle to highlight day one for the Columbia men's swimming team at the 2019 Big Al Invitational on Friday evening. The Lions sit fifth in the team scoring with 156.5 points.
 
The evening opened up with Columbia's quartet of Gwo, Jonas Kistorp, Nian-Guo Liu and Kevin Dang earning a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:19.07. Columbia had the fastest time of the four Ivy League teams competing, but trailed Denver's 1:17.40.
 
Columbia's record-holder in the event, Liu was the Lion's top finisher in the 200 IM, placing third with a time of 1:45.92. Sophomore Hayden Liu also had a 10th-place finish in the event with a time of 1:48.59.
 
Gwo's school-record 19.50 swim in the 50 free was good for fourth place overall in the finals, leading Kistorp who took fifth overall with a time of 19.92.
 
To wrap up the night, Columbia had another silver-worthy performance in the 400 medley relay, as Cole Stevens, Nian-Guo Liu, Kistorp and Gwo teamed up to post. a time of 3:12.99.
 
Day two of the Big Al Invitational kicks off Saturday, with events including the 200 medley relay, 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 800 free relay.
 
For the latest on the Columbia men's swimming and diving program, follow @ColumbiaMenSwim on Twitter, @ColumbiaMenSwimming and @ColumbiaDiving on Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.