Michigan
UGA Fall Invitational
Distance Trio, Diving Lead Wolverines on Day 1 of UGA Fall Invite
11/29/2018 8:27:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving
» Ricardo Vargas and Patrick Callan posted the first- and second-fastest times in the country in the 500-yard freestyle, combining with Felix Auböck on a 1-2-3 finish.
» Ross Todd and Jake Herremans went 1-2 on the one-meter springboard.
» Luiz Gustavo Borges posted the third-fastest time in school history out of the morning preliminaries in the 50-yard freestyle (19.11).
Site: Athens, Ga. (Gabrielsen Natatorium)
Event: UGA Fall Invitational (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Team Standing: 2nd of 5 Teams (307 points) after Day 1
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 30 -- at UGA Fall Invitational - Day Two (Athens, Ga.), 9:30 a.m./5 p.m.
• Complete Results (PDF)
ATHENS, Ga. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team sent 11 student-athletes to event finals and sits in second place (307Â points) following the first day of the UGA Fall Invite on Thursday (Nov. 29), held inside Gabrielsen Natatorium. Cal holds the team lead (365 points).
"That's probably the best we've ever performed at this meet on the first day," said head coach Mike Bottom. "Our message at the end of it was to get yourself ready. We've got another two days. This is a rehearsal for what we'll see later in the year at Big Tens and NCAAs. I think we're off to a good start, and we'll build on it tomorrow."
The Michigan distance group was in tip-top shape, recording a 1-2-3 finish behind sophomore Ricardo Vargas (4:11.45), freshman Patrick Callan (4:12.56) and junior Felix Auböck (4:14.45). Of the three, Vargas surpassed the NCAA 'A' cut in the event, while Callan just missed it, posting the seventh-fastest time in school history. Those are the two fastest times in the NCAA thus far this season. Auböck had the top time in the morning (4:13.78).
All four divers met the NCAA Zone Diving qualifying standard for one-meter on Friday. Sophomore Ross Todd (343.90) and junior Jake Herremans (336.60) combined for a 1-2 finish, while sophomore Chris Canning was narrowly behind in fourth (315.80). Senior/junior Collin DeShaw took seventh (299.05).
The junior class took to the pool and scored big points in the 200-yard individual medley. Charlie Swanson (third, 1:44.13) and Tommy Cope (fourth, 1:44.23) held their seeds, while Jacob Montague shaved some time to win the consolation heat (ninth, 1:44.26). Jeremy Babinet was also in that heat, finishing 16th (1:49.50).
Sophomore Luiz Gustavo Borges had a great day Thursday, throwing down a 19.11 time during the morning's preliminaries in the 50-yard freestyle. It was the third-fastest time in school history. He was just a shade off that time in the evening's finals, where he finished second (19.21). Juniors Miles Smachlo (19.93) and James Jones (19.97) qualified for the final, but did not swim, allowing junior/sophomore Alex King to earn a lane, finishing eighth (20.25).
The quartet of Borges, Jones, Smachlo and King took second in the 200-yard freestyle relay, just getting under the NCAA 'B' standard (1:18.07). The Wolverines' foursome of senior Kai Williams, Cope, Smachlo and Borges finished fourth in the 400-yard medley relay (3:07.96), having their time reinstated after an earlier disqualification.Â
The UGA Fall Invitational continues Friday (Nov. 30) with preliminaries at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m.
NCAA Qualifying Times/Scores
Preliminaries - p
200-yard Freestyle Relay
B -- Luiz Gustavo Borges, James Jones, Miles Smachlo, Alex King (1:18.07)
500-yard Freestyle
A -- Ricardo Vargas, 4:11.45
B -- Patrick Callan, 4:12.56 (No. 7 at U-M)
B -- Felix Auböck, 4:13.78p
B -- Will Roberts, 4:20.47
200-yard IM
B -- Charlie Swanson, 1:44.13
B -- Tommy Cope, 1:44.23
B -- Jacob Montague, 1:44.26
B -- Jeremy Babinet, 1:46.67p
50-yard Freestyle
B -- Luiz Gustavo Borges, 19.11 (No. 3 at U-M)
B -- Miles Smachlo, 19.93
One-Meter Diving
Ross Todd, 359.45p
Jake Herremans, 336.60
Collin DeShaw, 320.75p
Chris Canning, 315.80
400-yard Medley Relay
B -- Kai Williams, Tommy Cope, Miles Smachlo, Luiz Gustavo Borges (3:07.96)
Players Mentioned
