Feb. 29, 2008
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s swimming team is in fifth place after the third night of the ACC Championships held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. Mickey Malul became the Jackets’ first ACC champion this season when he won the 100-breast in a school record and NCAA “B” cut time of 53.91. It was Tech’s first ACC win in this event ever. Noah Copeland also broke his own school record in the 200-free while the 200-medley relay team set a school record as well.
The Jackets have 269 points through three nights. Virginia is in first with 559, followed by North Carolina (377), Florida State (352) and Virginia Tech (275).
In the 400-IM, Jeff Burton came in 10th for the Yellow Jackets as he shaved two seconds off his prelim time and touched the wall in 3:56.10.
The 100-fly saw Onur Uras place sixth in a NCAA “B” cut time of 48.03. It was a new career-high for Uras. Travis Wagner scored a 12th-place finish for the Jackets as he touched the wall in 48.69, just missing the “B” cut standards. In prelims, however, Wagner clocked in at 48.55 which was a career-high and good enough for a NCAA “B” cut.
The 200-free saw another school record go down as Noah Copeland broke his own mark. Copeland finished second in a NCAA “B” cut time of 1:35.94. He had set that mark earlier this season at the U.S. Short Course Nationals.
Mickey Malul won the 100-breast in a NCAA “B” cut time of 53.91 becoming Tech’s first ACC winner this season. In addition, Malul is the first Tech swimmer ever to win this event and he set a school record in the process. Andy Miller placed third in a NCAA “B” cut time of 54.81.
In the 100-back, Johnny Hagaman secured a 12th-place finish as he finished in 49.61. His time of 49.12 during the morning’s prelims section was a new career-high. Matt Tang placed 15th at 49.92, also establishing a new career-high.
Tech closed out the night in impressive fashion by coming in second in the 400-medley relay. The team of Hagaman, Malul, Uras and Copeland registered a NCAA “B” cut time of 3:14.25. It set a new school record and the Jackets took almost eight seconds off their seeded time.
The ACC Men’s Championship concludes tomorrow at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. Prelims begin at 11:00 a.m. while finals will get underway at 7:00 p.m. Events on the final day include the 1650-free, 200-back, 100-free, 200-breast, 200-fly and 400-free relay will take place Saturday.
Admission will be free for all fans. For those who can’t make it, live streaming video and live stats will be available through ACC Select.
