UGA Fall Invite Day 1 Prelims: Andrew Abruzzo Swims Lifetime Best in 500 Free

by Robert Gibbs 19

November 18th, 2020 News

2020 UGA Fall Invite

  • Wednesday, November 18-Friday, November 20, 2020
  • Ramsey Center at University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • SCY
  • Invite Format
  • Live Results
  • Results on Meet Mobile as “UGA Fall Invitational 2020”

The UGA Fall Invite, the first of the scaled-back fall invitational-style meets we’ll see this week, features the hosts, the Georgia Bulldogs, along with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and the Florida State Seminoles. The meet got underway way this morning with heats of the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 free.

On the men’s side, Georgia junior Andrew Abruzzo led the 500 free this morning with a new lifetime best of 4:13.54, almost exactly 1.5s faster than his previous lifetime best. Abruzzo is one of those types who has excellent long course credentials, but hasn’t quite figured it out in yards yet. This morning’s swim is a promising sign in that respect, as it would’ve made the A-final at the 2019 NCAA Championships.

Rounding out the top three were Abruzzo’s teammates Jake Magahey (4:17.03) and Greg Reed (4:17.33). All told, the Bulldogs took five of the top eight spots, with Georgia Tech taking two, and Florida State one.

This morning’s prelims set up what should be a fun battle tonight in the 200 IM. Georgia sprinter Javier Acevedo put up the top time this morning with a 1:43.59, just ahead of freshman teammate Luca Urlando, who’s 1:43.60 this morning is his 3rd-fastest time ever. The Bulldog pair will have to hold off Georgia Tech All-American Caio Pumputis, who was over a second behind this morning with his 1:44.75, but holds a lifetime best of 1:41.04.

Unsurprisingly, Florida State had a far better showing in the 50 free, as the ‘Noles have been known for their sprint chops as of late. While Georgia’s Dillon Downing took the top seed with a 19.42, just a tenth off of his lifetime best, FSU men took half the spots in the top eight, with Peter Varjasi‘s 19.65 leading that group. Georgia Tech also grabbed two of the top eight spots, led by Kyle Barone, whose 19.79 was the 3rd-fastest time of the morning, and is a new lifetime best for him by 0.17s.

It was a similar story on the women’s side, where Courtney Harnish took the top seed in the 500 free with a 4:41.48, with teammates Olivia Anderson (4:45.68) and Jillian Barczyk (4:47.11) rounding out the top three. .Georgia Tech nabbed three of the top eight spots, and Florida State took one.

UGA’s dominated the 200 IM even more, taking the top seven spots, with Florida State taking the eighth. Zoie Hartman led the UGA women with a 1:55.53, followed by Danielle Dellatorre (1:56.73) and Portia Brown (1:57.85).

Again, just as on the men’s side, the Bulldog women also put up the fastest time of the morning in the 50 free. Gabi Fa’Amausili led the way with a 22.52, with teammate Maxine Parker just behind in 22.62. FSU’s Jenny Halden rounded out the top three, as the ‘Noles took five of the top eight spots, with Georgia taking a total of three.

Action continues tonight with finals for all of this morning’s evens, plus timed finals of the 200 free and 400 medley relays.

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Dan Flack
3 years ago

Happy Birthday Andrew!- Get a large Pudges Cheesesteak for you and Coach Jack & a Slurpee for Coach Steph!

swimfan210_
3 years ago

UGA swimming posts race videos on their channel, will probably post more videos as finals/more sessions happen. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI9IWEKnGR9leOZrPnOzpGw

Greg
Reply to  swimfan210_
3 years ago

Or if you want to watch it now, and with reasonably high quality, the entire session is available on demand through the ESPN app.

Swimdude
3 years ago

Harry Homans???

Ghost
Reply to  Swimdude
3 years ago

Mystery! He hasn’t swum all fall in their meets!

Raiders
3 years ago

Auburn Invite prelim results now up on meet mobile. Just Florida and Auburn, no South Carolina.

Willswim
3 years ago

When does swimswam usually put out their first team rankings for NCAAs? I’m curious to see where they have the UGA men.

Admin
Reply to  Willswim
3 years ago

We’re planning to do them after this weekend’s meets. Pre-season, and ignoring things we know now about Arizona State and etc., I had them 12. With what we’ve seen so far with Urlando seeming to be recovered and Camden Murphy swimming well, I’d probably move them up to 8 or 9, but we’ll see how everything goes for them (and everyone else) this weekend.

swim guy 67
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

lots of people sleep on UGA. i think they have a great potential.

Admin
Reply to  swim guy 67
3 years ago

Every team, every season, is ‘slept on,’ and yet, inevitably, every season, there is only 1 NCAA Champion, 5 teams in the top 5, 10 teams in the top 10, and 25 teams in the top 25. A paradox, for sure, in college swimming.

At the last NCAA Championships, 2019, Georgia was 18th. Last season, Georgia was seeded to finish tied for 17th in swimming points only. At some point, if you want people to ‘stop sleeping on you,’ you have to actually perform at the top 15, top 10, top 5 level that you think you deserve accolades for, lest you become Sleeping Beauty.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

Ok, then rank Prince Charming

Ghost
Reply to  swim guy 67
3 years ago

I think the last couple years they have been a disappointment but I agree they are pretty good this year. Obviously, it is Cal and Texas, then everyone else! So top 4 finish is a possibility (team hardware). They get two more studs in January so they are deep and loaded…a bit thin in breastroke. (And a missing Harry Homans for no given reason). If the season doesn’t have to take a COVID break, they could maybe get 3-5th.

B1Guy!
Reply to  Willswim
3 years ago

What’s the point not gonna be an NCAAs or at least a very highly attended one. More teams shutting down till the new year which basically means their seasons done. Why bring em back to campus in January to quarantine for 2 weeks they train for about 6 weeks an try to taper.

LongCorse
Reply to  B1Guy!
3 years ago

If they do some testing before and after travels, I think they could run NCAAs

STB
Reply to  LongCorse
3 years ago

I think the telltale sign will be whether there is march madness. With the recent announcement of only one site, that means there will be 60+ teams traveling from all over the country, converging on one city. If this is possible, I see no reason for NCAAs to not take place.

Coach
Reply to  STB
3 years ago

There will be a March Madness $$$$$$$$$$$$$ just like there will be a Super Bowl. $$$$$$$$$$

MarkB
Reply to  Coach
3 years ago

I think it’s spelled March Madne$$$$$$ and $$$$uper Bowl.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  STB
3 years ago

Well, the NCAA clearly has March Madness figured out. “The NCAA said it’s in talks with the state of Indiana and city of Indianapolis to find enough courts to host all games of the 68-team tournament.”

collegeswimmer
3 years ago

Also Andrew Abruzzo’s birthday! HBD!

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