THE FLATS – Georgia Tech swimming and diving competed in day two of the ACC Swimming and Diving Championships hosted at McAuley Aquatic Center. Ruben Lechuga secured the first podium performance for the Yellow Jackets when he finished second on the 1-meter board.
In the pool, two new program records were set on the day. The men’s 200 free relay team of Christian Ferraro, Austin Daniel, Justin Alderson and Caio Pumputis turned in a time of 1:17.59, a 0.11 second improvement over the previous record.
The record book was rewritten twice in the men’s 500 free on the day. In prelims, Batur Ünlü improved his 500 free record by 0.81 seconds before Mert Kilavuz broke that newly minted record in finals with a time of 4:15.44. Kilavuz now owns the 500, 1000 and 1650 free program records.
Lechuga’s performance in the 1-meter diving event was highlighted by a Forward 2 1/2 Somersault 1 Twist Pike (5152B). This dive had the highest degree of difficulty of any of his dives (3.2) and he scored eights across the board to score 76.80.
Going into his final dive, Lechuga knew he would need a 58.1 or better to guarantee silver. He was performing a Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Tuck (107C) which has a degree of difficulty of 3.0. As long as he averaged 6.5s on his scores, he would guarantee silver. When the final scores went up he scored two sevens and one 6.5, giving him a 3.4-point cushion over third place.
Men's 1-meter Diving (photos by Ben Ennis)
Tech had five more finalists on the day. Pumputis swam in the men’s 200 IM A – final after qualifying eighth. Pumputis was in podium contention for the whole race before placing fourth with a time of 1:43.89. Berke Saka was swimming in the B-final of the 200 IM and posted a time of 1:43.27, the fifth fastest men’s 200 IM time in the finals.
The 500 free had two Yellow Jackets swimming in the B – final in McKenzie Campbell and Clark Wakeland. Campbell recorded a time of 4:50.40 while Wakeland touched the wall at 4:18.46.
After winning a swim-off, Austin Daniel competed in the C – Final of the 50 free clocking in at 19.78.
There were four Jackets who posted times that would have got them invited to the 2021 NCAA Championships. Those came from Kilavuz (4:15.44, 500 free), Ünlü (4:15.66, 500 free), Saka (1:43.27, 200 IM) and Pumputis (1:43.89, 200 IM).
The White and Gold return to the McAuley Aquatic Center for day three of the ACC Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday. Prelims are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. with finals kicking off at 6 p.m.
Day three will feature the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 200 medley relay and women’s 3-meter diving. Athletes to watch in the 400 IM include Campbell who currently owns the 10th best time in the conference in the event and Antonio Romero who has the 13th best time in the conference in the 400 IM.
The 100 fly is an event where Ferraro shines. He currently has the fifth fastest time in the ACC in the event. On the women’s side, Zora Ripková has a B cut in the event with a time of 53.52.
Strong performances in the 200 free are bound to come from Ünlü who won the event at ACCs last year, currently owns the third fastest time in conference and owns the school record in the event.
In the last event of the day, Cami Hidalgo looks to show why she has garnered such an impeccable reputation on the 3-meter board. Hidalgo finished third at the 2021 NCAA Championships in the event.
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