THE FLATS – Georgia Tech swimming and diving competed in day three of the ACC Swimming and Diving Championships hosted at McAuley Aquatic Center on Thursday. The men’s team is fifth while the women’s team is 10th after day four.
The men’s 400 medley relay team of Berke Saka, Caio Pumputis, Christian Ferraro and Batur Ünlü placed fifth on the night with a time 3:05.39, good for an ‘A’ cut.
Day four saw two new ‘B’ cuts earned by Tech swimmers. Both ‘B’ cuts came in the 100 breast with Clarissa Sabin and Nicole Williams turning in times of 1:01.24 and 1:01.65, respectively, during preliminary action.
Two Yellow Jackets made it to the A – Final of their events in Ferraro and Pumputis. Ferraro swam in the 200 fly A – Final where he placed seventh with a time of 1:43.10. Pumputis took to the pool for the 100 breast A – Final where he placed fourth with a time of 51.77.
There were five Jackets in B – Finals. Sabin swam in the B – Final of the 100 breast clocking in at 1:01.05. The remaining four B – Finalists came from Antonio Romero (1:44.70, 200 fly), Saka (45.81, 100 back), Kyle Barone (46.15, 100 back) and Daniel Kertesz (52.90, 100 breast).
Tech’s last finalists swam in C – Finals. They were:
- McKenzie Campbell (1:56.29, 200 Fly)
- Defne Taçyildiz (1:58.89, 200 Fly)
- Claudia Butterfield (1:01.22, 100 Breast)
- Nicole Williams (1:01.64, 100 Breast)
- Justin Alderson (53.03, 100 Breast)
- Leandro Odorici (53.24, 100 Breast)
Campbell’s 200 fly (1:56.29), Ferraro’s 200 fly (1:42.37), Saka’s 100 back (45.81), Barone’s 100 back (46.15) and Pumputis’ 100 breast (51.77) were all good enough to be invited to the 2021 NCAA Championships.
The White and Gold compete again on Saturday in the final day of the ACC swimming and diving championships. Events to look out for include the 1650 free and Mert Kilavuz. The fabulous freshman owns the school record in the event, is one of four swimmers to post a time that would have been invited to the 2021 NCAA Championships already and owns the best time in the ACC in the event by 6.48 seconds.
Tech has two swimmers who own top eight times in the ACC in the 200 back in Saka (second) and Barone (eighth). Pumputis will be swimming in the 200 breast, an event in which he holds the conference record.
Over in the diving well, we will have women’s platform diving. Georgia Tech currently boasts three divers who have top conference scores in Carmen Woodruff, Camryn Hidalgo and Anna Bradescu.
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