SEC Swimming and Diving Championships
Auburn, Alabama 2020
The third night of the 2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships from Auburn, Alabama featured the finals of the 400 IM, 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle.
An NCAA record watch was in effect tonight with Erika Brown and Kieran Smith set to swim their respective events. Ultimately, no NCAA records fell but Brown did get under the American record in the 100 butterfly as she moved to third all-time in the event.
Smith won the 400 IM for his second title of the meet but fell short of the NCAA record. He might end up choosing the 200 free for NCAAs but he will be a favorite in both events in five weeks come nationals.
The Florida Gators built a huge lead on Thursday night as the men got two wins from Smith and Khader Baqlah on the night. They lead by over 100 points over Texas A&M.
The Tennessee women also extended their lead as they got wins from Brown and Tess Cieplucha (400 IM) as they search for their first ever SEC team title.
Georgia’s Veronica Burchill (200 free) and Missouri’s Danny Kovac (100 fly) also won titles on night three.
Details
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 22 1. Tennessee, University of, Knox 632.5 2. University of Florida 585.5 3. Kentucky, University of 491.5 4. Texas A&M University 491 5. Auburn University 478 6. Georgia, University of 456 7. University of Alabama 351.5 8. University of Arkansas 254 9. Missouri 252 10. Louisiana State 236 11. South Carolina, University of, 228 12. Vanderbilt University 90
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 21 1. University of Florida 694.5 2. Texas A&M University 538.5 3. Georgia, University of 493.5 4. University of Alabama 438.5 5. Tennessee, University of, Knox 422 6. Kentucky, University of 416 7. Missouri 415 8. Auburn University 385 9. South Carolina, University of, 265 10. Louisiana State University 258
Women’s 400 IM
Tennessee senior Tess Cieplucha put the pedal to the metal on the back half of the 400 IM as she won going away with a 4:01.88 to give the Vols a big win on Thursday night at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. She was pushed by Florida sophomore Vanessa Pearl, who closed the gap on the breaststroke leg, but Pearl fell off on the freestyle and finished second at 4:04.61. The Gators are still in the lead through 8 women’s events at SECs. The Gators are shooting for their first team title since 2009 while Tennessee is shooting for their first in school history.
Kentucky junior Bailey Bonnett swam a 4:05.62 to finish in third place as she held off Texas A&M’s Jing Quah (4:06.18) at the finish.
Alabama’s Alexis Preski (4:07.95), Tennessee’s Alexis Yager (4:10.54), Florida’s Kathleen Golding (4:10.56) and Florida’s Kelly Fertel (4:10.71) also competed in the championship final as the Gators got a boat-load of points.
Event 16 Women 400 Yard IM
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
SEC Meet: S 3:58.35 2/17/2012 Elizabeth Beisel, Florida
Pool: P 3:56.54 3/16/2012 Katinka Hosszu, Southern Cal
4:03.62 A
4:17.30 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Cieplucha, Tess SR Tennessee 4:04.04 4:01.88 A 32
r:+0.73 25.37 54.98 (29.61)
1:26.44 (31.46) 1:57.67 (31.23)
2:31.97 (34.30) 3:06.19 (34.22)
3:34.53 (28.34) 4:01.88 (27.35)
2 Pearl, Vanessa SO FLOR 4:05.52 4:04.61 B 28
r:+0.68 25.81 55.90 (30.09)
1:27.42 (31.52) 1:58.93 (31.51)
2:32.67 (33.74) 3:06.74 (34.07)
3:35.97 (29.23) 4:04.61 (28.64)
3 Bonnett, Bailey JR Kentucky 4:06.36 4:05.62 B 27
r:+0.66 26.24 56.45 (30.21)
1:28.46 (32.01) 2:00.72 (32.26)
2:33.48 (32.76) 3:07.85 (34.37)
3:37.53 (29.68) 4:05.62 (28.09)
4 Quah, Jing JR Texas A&M 4:08.35 4:06.18 B 26
r:+0.61 25.73 55.33 (29.60)
1:27.04 (31.71) 1:57.73 (30.69)
2:33.39 (35.66) 3:09.64 (36.25)
3:38.50 (28.86) 4:06.18 (27.68)
5 Preski, Alexis SR Alabama 4:06.83 4:07.95 B 25
r:+0.68 26.46 56.09 (29.63)
1:28.02 (31.93) 1:59.13 (31.11)
2:34.63 (35.50) 3:10.25 (35.62)
3:39.68 (29.43) 4:07.95 (28.27)
6 Yager, Alexis A JR Tennessee 4:05.75 4:10.54 B 24
r:+0.73 26.28 56.60 (30.32)
1:29.06 (32.46) 2:00.67 (31.61)
2:35.53 (34.86) 3:10.78 (35.25)
3:41.07 (30.29) 4:10.54 (29.47)
7 Golding, Kathle FR FLOR 4:08.94 4:10.56 B 23
r:+0.70 25.99 56.28 (30.29)
1:28.53 (32.25) 2:00.81 (32.28)
2:36.65 (35.84) 3:12.86 (36.21)
3:41.97 (29.11) 4:10.56 (28.59)
8 Fertel, Kelly A SR FLOR 4:09.11 4:10.71 B 22
r:+0.72 26.13 56.71 (30.58)
1:28.95 (32.24) 2:00.33 (31.38)
2:35.58 (35.25) 3:11.76 (36.18)
3:41.88 (30.12) 4:10.71 (28.83)
Men’s 400 IM
The Florida Gators went 1-2-3 in the 400 IM final as they swept the podium and jumped Texas A&M in the team standings on Thursday night at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. Sophomore Kieran Smith won his second event of the week with a 3:37.31 as he broke Chase Kalisz’s pool record set in 2015. Senior Grant Sanders (3:40.20) and sophomore Bobby Finke (3:41.56) swept the podium for the second straight year as Finke won it last year followed by Smith and Sanders.
The time for Smith is the fastest in the country as he is 24 hours removed from his American record last night.
The Gators had five total swimmers in the A-Final as sophomore Miguel Cancel (3:44.32) and freshman Kevin Vargas (3:44.73) finished in fifth and sixth place respectively, nearly completing a full sweep.
Alabama’s Nicholas Perera (3:42.61) finished in fourth while Georgia’s Andrew Abruzzo (3:44.80) and Clayton Forde (3:45.28) finished seventh and eighth.
Event 17 Men 400 Yard IM
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 3:33.42 3/24/2017 Chase Kalisz, Georgia
SEC Meet: S 3:35.76 2/16/2018 Hugo Gonzalez, Auburn
Pool: P 3:38.39 2/19/2015 Chase Kalisz, Georgia
3:39.16 A
3:51.46 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Smith, Kieran S SO FLOR 3:40.54 3:37.31PA 32
r:+0.69 23.06 50.05 (26.99)
1:17.77 (27.72) 1:44.47 (26.70)
2:15.30 (30.83) 2:46.84 (31.54)
3:12.84 (26.00) 3:37.31 (24.47)
2 Sanders, Grant SR FLOR 3:42.90 3:40.20 B 28
r:+0.71 23.05 49.54 (26.49)
1:17.83 (28.29) 1:45.54 (27.71)
2:16.07 (30.53) 2:47.16 (31.09)
3:14.25 (27.09) 3:40.20 (25.95)
3 Finke, Bobby C SO FLOR 3:43.79 3:41.56 B 27
r:+0.75 24.13 51.45 (27.32)
1:19.11 (27.66) 1:46.37 (27.26)
2:18.52 (32.15) 2:51.12 (32.60)
3:17.00 (25.88) 3:41.56 (24.56)
4 Perera, Nichola SO Alabama 3:43.61 3:42.61 B 26
r:+0.59 23.68 50.40 (26.72)
1:19.49 (29.09) 1:48.32 (28.83)
2:18.90 (30.58) 2:50.32 (31.42)
3:16.58 (26.26) 3:42.61 (26.03)
5 Cancel, Miguel SO FLOR 3:45.25 3:44.32 B 25
r:+0.62 23.70 51.40 (27.70)
1:20.43 (29.03) 1:48.45 (28.02)
2:20.35 (31.90) 2:52.44 (32.09)
3:18.90 (26.46) 3:44.32 (25.42)
6 Vargas, Kevin L FR FLOR 3:44.16 3:44.73 B 24
r:+0.65 24.07 51.50 (27.43)
1:21.07 (29.57) 1:49.94 (28.87)
2:20.93 (30.99) 2:52.42 (31.49)
3:18.94 (26.52) 3:44.73 (25.79)
7 Abruzzo, Andrew SO Georgia 3:44.36 3:44.80 B 23
r:+0.75 23.88 51.42 (27.54)
1:19.82 (28.40) 1:47.84 (28.02)
2:20.50 (32.66) 2:53.71 (33.21)
3:19.93 (26.22) 3:44.80 (24.87)
8 Forde, Clayton SR Georgia 3:44.43 3:45.28 B 22
r:+0.74 24.17 51.40 (27.23)
1:21.03 (29.63) 1:49.83 (28.80)
2:21.87 (32.04) 2:53.76 (31.89)
3:20.31 (26.55) 3:45.28 (24.97)
Women’s 100 Butterfly
Tennessee senior Erika Brown got within a finger nail of the 100 butterfly NCAA record on Thursday night at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn, Alabama as she swam a 49.38. Brown just missed the 49.26 record that is joint-held by USC’s Louise Hansson and Michigan’s Maggie MacNeil. Both of those swimmers are still in the NCAA and if Brown elects too swim this event, it will be one of the can’t-miss races of the NCAA Championships. Brown is now third all-time in the 100 butterfly and wins her third straight SEC title in the event.
Alabama sophomore Rhyan White finished in the runner-up spot with a 50.80 as she got under 51 seconds for the second time today. Florida senior Sherridon Dressel (51.20) finished in third place as the Gators are still in the hunt for the team title.
Tennessee picked up a good amount of points from Brown and sophomore Trude Rothrock (51.60), who finished fourth in a tie with Kentucky’s Izzy Gati (51.60).
Alabama’s Flora Molnar (51.94), Georgia’s Dakota Luther (52.04) and South Carolina’s Christina Lappin (52.32) also swam in the championship final.
Event 18 Women 100 Yard Butterfly
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 49.26 12/6/2019 L. Hansson & M. MacNeil, USC & Michigan
SEC Meet: S 49.85 2/15/2019 Erika Brown, Tennessee
Pool: P 50.62 3/21/2003 Natalie Coughlin, California
50.92 A
53.76 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Brown, Erika J SR Tennessee 50.39 49.38SA 32
r:+0.63 10.52 22.83 (12.31)
35.79 (12.96) 49.38 (13.59)
2 White, Rhyan E SO Alabama 50.97 50.80 A 28
r:+0.66 11.05 23.84 (12.79)
36.90 (13.06) 50.80 (13.90)
3 Dressel, Sherri SR FLOR 51.60 51.20 B 27
r:+0.64 10.93 24.01 (13.08)
37.46 (13.45) 51.20 (13.74)
4 Gati, Izzy G SO Kentucky 52.02 51.60 B 25.5
r:+0.65 11.23 24.15 (12.92)
37.99 (13.84) 51.60 (13.61)
4 Rothrock, Trude SO Tennessee 51.53 51.60 B 25.5
r:+0.64 10.84 24.03 (13.19)
37.61 (13.58) 51.60 (13.99)
6 Molnar, Flora JR Alabama 52.32 51.94 B 24
r:+0.66 10.72 23.79 (13.07)
37.43 (13.64) 51.94 (14.51)
7 Luther, Dakota SO Georgia 51.99 52.04 B 23
r:+0.69 11.31 24.46 (13.15)
38.12 (13.66) 52.04 (13.92)
8 Lappin, Christi SR South Carolina 52.27 52.32 B 22
r:+0.73 10.95 24.24 (13.29)
37.86 (13.62) 52.32 (14.46)
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Missouri sophomore Danny Kovac held off Auburn’s Santiago Grassi in the finals of the 100 butterfly as it looked like the Tigers would be celebrating their first gold medal of the championships in their home pool. But alas, the James E. Martin Aquatic Center would hear the Missouri fight song played throughout the speakers as Kovac touched first at 45.29 to Grassi’s 45.32.
This morning’s top seed, Camden Murphy of Georgia, finished in third at 45.47 as the Bulldogs are pushing for the runner-up spot with Texas A&M. Florida’s Will Davis (45.75) and Eric Friese (45.97) continued to pile on the points for the Gators as they distance themselves from A&M and Georgia.
Alabama’s Tyler Sesvold (45.76), Tennessee’s Kayky Mota (45.76) and Missouri’s Daniel Hein (45.86) also competed in the very tight championship final.
Event 19 Men 100 Yard Butterfly
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 42.80 3/23/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
SEC Meet: S 44.21 2/18/2017 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
Pool: P 45.02 2/20/2009 Matt Targett, Auburn
45.05 A
47.43 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Kovac, Danny D SO Missouri 45.94 45.29 B 32
r:+0.57 9.43 20.92 (11.49)
32.89 (11.97) 45.29 (12.40)
2 Grassi, Santiag SR Auburn 46.17 45.32 B 28
r:+0.61 9.39 20.84 (11.45)
32.83 (11.99) 45.32 (12.49)
3 Murphy, Camden JR Georgia 45.54 45.47 B 27
r:+0.69 9.76 21.15 (11.39)
32.94 (11.79) 45.47 (12.53)
4 Davis, Will SO FLOR 46.24 45.75 B 26
r:+0.62 9.58 21.16 (11.58)
33.17 (12.01) 45.75 (12.58)
5 Sesvold, Tyler JR Alabama 45.88 45.76 B 24.5
r:+0.63 9.19 20.92 (11.73)
33.03 (12.11) 45.76 (12.73)
5 Mota, Kayky M Tennessee 45.65 45.76 B 24.5
r:+0.63 9.57 21.16 (11.59)
33.26 (12.10) 45.76 (12.50)
7 Hein, Daniel W SR Missouri 46.18 45.86 B 23
r:+0.62 9.64 20.98 (11.34)
33.11 (12.13) 45.86 (12.75)
8 Friese, Eric E FR FLOR 46.12 45.97 B 22
r:+0.65 9.54 21.30 (11.76)
33.29 (11.99) 45.97 (12.68)
Women’s 200 Freestyle
Georgia senior Veronica Burchill won her very first SEC individual title in the 200 freestyle on Thursday night at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships as she swam a 1:42.33 to just hold off Arkansas’ Anna Hopkin (1:42.35). Hopkin came home like a freight train on the last 25 and nearly caught Burchill but came up just short, as the Bulldog senior went 1-3 with junior Courtney Harnish (1:43.26).
Burchill and Harnish will have an opportunity to go faster at the NCAA Championships that will be in their home pool in Athens, Georgia in 27 days.
Tennessee senior Meghan Small (1:43.55) could not continue Tennessee’s winning streak tonight as she finished in fourth place.
Kentucky’s Ali Galyer (1:44.55), Texas A&M’s Katie Portz (1:45.12), Tennessee’s Tjasas Pintar (1:45.30) and Texas A&M’s Karling Hemstreet (1:45.66) also swam in the championship final.
Event 20 Women 200 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
SEC Meet: S 1:41.83 2/20/2014 Shannon Vreeland, Georgia
Pool: P 1:41.21 3/16/2012 Megan Romano, Georgia
1:42.98 A
1:47.12 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Burchill, Veron SR Georgia 1:43.74 1:42.33 A 32
r:+0.68 23.57 48.98 (25.41)
1:15.38 (26.40) 1:42.33 (26.95)
2 Hopkin, Anna E SR Arkansas 1:44.67 1:42.35 A 28
r:+0.65 23.92 49.97 (26.05)
1:16.09 (26.12) 1:42.35 (26.26)
3 Harnish, Courtn JR Georgia 1:44.84 1:43.26 B 27
r:+0.72 24.44 50.65 (26.21)
1:16.87 (26.22) 1:43.26 (26.39)
4 Small, Meghan N SR Tennessee 1:44.87 1:43.55 B 26
r:+0.68 24.40 50.34 (25.94)
1:16.59 (26.25) 1:43.55 (26.96)
5 Galyer, Ali J SR Kentucky 1:44.69 1:44.55 B 25
r:+0.66 24.14 50.28 (26.14)
1:17.03 (26.75) 1:44.55 (27.52)
6 Portz, Katie A SR Texas A&M 1:45.36 1:45.12 B 24
r:+0.67 24.82 51.36 (26.54)
1:18.17 (26.81) 1:45.12 (26.95)
7 Pintar, Tjasa JR Tennessee 1:45.47 1:45.30 B 23
r:+0.69 24.57 51.14 (26.57)
1:18.55 (27.41) 1:45.30 (26.75)
8 Hemstreet, Karl SR Texas A&M 1:45.20 1:45.66 B 22
r:+0.67 24.82 51.55 (26.73)
1:18.42 (26.87) 1:45.66 (27.24)
Men’s 200 Freestyle
The Florida Gators continued to pile on the points on Thursday night as Khader Baqlah won the 200 freestyle at 1:32.05, using a 23.68 on the final 50 to run down Texas A&M’s Mark Theall (1:32.45). Baqlah gets his title back from when he won as a sophomore in 2018 as he was third last year.
LSU freshman Brooks Curry had an incredible swim to finish in second place at 1:32.43 as he nearly became the first LSU SEC champion on the men’s side since Evan Martinec won the 100 back in 2004. Curry should have a bright future with the Tigers. He out-touched A&M’s Theall to get second.
Auburn’s Christian Sztolcman (1:33.16) was also among the leaders but could not crack the top three as he finished in fourth.
Florida’s Gerry Quinn (1:34.15), Georgia’s Grant Norgan (1:34.22), Tennessee’s Josh Walsh (1:34.35) and South Carolina’s Phil Costin (1:34.72) also swam in the championship final.
Event 21 Men 200 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 1:29.15 3/27/2019 Dean Farris, Harvard
SEC Meet: S 1:30.11 2/18/2020 Kieren Smith, Florida
Pool: P 1:30.11 2/18/2020 Kieren Smith, Florida
1:32.05 A
1:36.32 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Baqlah, Khader SR FLOR 1:33.82 1:32.05 A 32
r:+0.68 21.53 44.67 (23.14)
1:08.37 (23.70) 1:32.05 (23.68)
2 Curry, Brooks V FR LSU 1:33.37 1:32.43 B 28
r:+0.59 20.94 44.57 (23.63)
1:08.46 (23.89) 1:32.43 (23.97)
3 Theall, Mark J JR Texas A&M 1:32.48 1:32.45 B 27
r:+0.64 21.37 44.45 (23.08)
1:08.24 (23.79) 1:32.45 (24.21)
4 Sztolcman, Chri SO Auburn 1:33.62 1:33.16 B 26
r:+0.66 21.49 44.99 (23.50)
1:08.95 (23.96) 1:33.16 (24.21)
5 Quinn, Gerry JR FLOR 1:33.73 1:34.15 B 25
r:+0.69 21.60 45.41 (23.81)
1:09.77 (24.36) 1:34.15 (24.38)
6 Norgan, Grant C JR Georgia 1:34.43 1:34.22 B 24
r:+0.71 22.15 45.97 (23.82)
1:10.25 (24.28) 1:34.22 (23.97)
7 Walsh, Josh M JR Tennessee 1:34.44 1:34.35 B 23
r:+0.59 21.44 45.31 (23.87)
1:09.78 (24.47) 1:34.35 (24.57)
8 Costin, Phil SO South Carolina 1:34.40 1:34.72 B 22
r:+0.71 22.06 45.72 (23.66)
1:09.81 (24.09) 1:34.72 (24.91)
Women’s 3m Diving
Event 22 Women 3 mtr Diving
=========================================================================
SEC Meet: S 413.75 2/20/2014 Laura Ryan, Georgia
280.00 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Knight, Kyndal SO Kentucky 292.20 353.75 B 32
2 Perez, Elizabet SO FLOR 294.35 346.50 B 28
3 Maillard, Aliso SR Auburn 324.05 336.15 B 27
4 McCool, Ashley JR FLOR 319.40 334.70 B 26
5 Campbell, Charl JR Texas A&M 312.25 334.65 B 25
6 Wilson, Aimee SO LSU 329.80 327.60 B 24
7 Austin, McKensi SR Georgia 296.35 297.00 B 23
8 Clairmont, Alys FR Texas A&M 294.20 262.20 22
