Georgia Commits Sacca and Galbraith Shine at Spartans Duel Against Gwinnett

GA 2020 Pentathlon Fall Series #1

• October 3-4, 2020
• Greater Atlanta Christian Freeman Aquatic Center, Lilburn, GA
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results on Meet Mobile “GA 2020 Pentathlon Fall Series #1”

Spartans Aquatic Club and Gwinnett Aquatics participated in a duel meet this weekend, Georgia Swimming’s first since the coronavirus pandemic forced pools around the country to shut down. 

Back in July, Spartans Aquatic Club became one of the first teams to host a meet following the shutdown. Led by 11-time NCAA All-American Karl Krug, the team has experienced great successes in recent years, reflected in the athlete’s performances this weekend. On Friday, the Spartans won every 13& over event, highlighted by fast performances from their swimmers. 

Two University of Georgia commits led the way for the Spartans. On the men’s side Peter Sacca, who is committed to join the Bulldogs in 2021 won 3 events, while also swimming best times in three of his races. Sacca has been on a tear since the pandemic, entering this meet already having swum 10 best times over the summer, while also nabbing his first US Open cut in August. 

In the 100 backstroke, Sacca posted a time of 49.42 to cruise past the 50-second barrier. His performance knocked almost a second off of his previous time (50.47), which was set at the team’s first meet back in July. It also ranks as the 3rd fastest time in the country this season for 17-year-olds. 

Sacca also won the 100 fly (49.85) and 100 freestyle (46.01), coming in slightly off of his best times 48.68 and 45.32, respectively, in both races. His time in the 100 butterfly also ranks 3rd in the country this season. 

Although he did not win either event, Sacca clipped his best times in the 100 breaststroke and 100 IM as well. In the 100 breaststroke, Sacca placed 4th overall, finishing in a final time of 59.54. This marked Sacca’s first swim under the 1:00-barrier in the event, besting his previous mark of 1:00.20. After the 100 breaststroke, Sacca came back to also swim a best time in the 100 IM, slicing .08 off of his previous best to finish in 51.80. 

Sacca’s teammate and fellow University of Georgia commit Hailey Galbraith also had a very good showing, winning three events and picking up a best time with one of her other swims. 

In route to her three victories, Galbraith dominated the fields, winning the 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly, and 100 freestyle. In the 100 backstroke, she hit the wall to post a final time of 58.17, which won the event by over a second. She then doubled her margin of victory in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 58.42 to finish over two seconds ahead of the runner-up. Although her margin of victory in the 100 freestyle was not as large, she still put up the top time of the day, coming in at 52.85, which won by over a half-second.

Galbraith wrapped up her day with a 6th place finish in the 100 breaststroke, where she posted a best time of 1:13.23. This took almost a second off of her previous time of 1:14.10 that was posted last November. 

Other highlights:

• 17-year-old Mary Adam dropped over 12 seconds in her 100 butterfly to come in with a final time of 1:04.82. Adam’s previous best time in the event was over 4 years old, coming from a time trial meet in September of 2016. Adam also posted a best time in the 100 backstroke, dropping over 5 seconds to come in with a time of 1:09.66. 
• Class of 2021 Auburn commit Nate Stoffle dropped over 3 seconds in the 100 IM to win the event with a final time of 51.15. Primarily a backstroker and sprint freestyler, Stoffle is currently ranked #19 in SwimSwam’s Top 20 NCAA Swimming Recruits in the Class of 2021.