March 1, 2003
Seniors Josh Hersko and Tomonori Tsuji posted the top preliminary times in their events and James Salazar and Matt Figh also qualifed for tonight’s finals to lead the Georgia Tech men’s swimming and diving team on the final day of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, Saturday morning in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Hersko swam 44.29 in the 100 freestyle to set a Georgia Tech school record and achieve the NCAA B cut qualifying standard. Tsuji also recorded an NCAA B cut performance with a time of 1:59.69 in the 200 breaststroke.
Salazar, also a senior, qualified for tonight’s finals by placing seventh in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:48.19, while Figh, a sophomore, swam 1:49.73 in the 200 butterfly to place seventh and reach the finals in that event.
Reaching the consolation final in the 200 breast were sophomore Jeremy Raines, who placed 11th with a time of 1:50.46., and senior Jorge Oliver, who was 13th with a time of 1:50.60.
Senior Robbie Foster qualified 11th in the 200 breast with a time of 2:03.18 and will swim in tonight’s consolation final.
In the 200 fly, junior Itai Eden placed 11th (1:51.15) to reach the consolation final, while Salazar (1:52.93) and freshman Jacob Wilson (1:52.77) advanced to the bonus consolation finals.
A pair of Yellow Jackets qualified for the bonus consolation final in the 100 free in freshmen Ryan Riebesell (45.89) and Jason Howard (45.96).
Paul McCarty stands seventh after the preliminaries of the 3-meter diving with a score of 443.15.
Tech enters tonight’s final session, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Koury Natatorium, in fourth place.
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