2022 SEC Championships, Day 3 Prelims: Ellen Walshe Sets up Daring Double

KNOXVILLE, TN - November 18, 2021 - Ellen Walshe of the Tennessee Volunteers during Day 1 preliminary session of the Tennessee Invitational at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Ellen Walshe; Photo Courtesy: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

2022 SEC Championships, Day 3 Prelims: Ellen Walshe Sets up Daring Double

Ellen Walshe has adapted quickly to the world of college swimming. At her first NCAAs, the Tennessee freshman added an impressive double to her schedule on Thursday, the third day of the 2022 SEC Championships.

Walshe is the top seed out of prelims in the women’s 400 individual medley and the second seed in the 100 butterfly. Walshe has already shown what she can do in the 200 IM, which she won by nearly a second on Wednesday night. She’s a big reason why the Vols are in good position to reclaim the SEC title, in their home pool.

Thursdays preliminary action:

2022 SEC Championships Links

Women’s team standings

  1. University of Tennessee         467.5   2. Georgia, University of            373
  3. University of Alabama             367   4. Kentucky, University of           299
  5. University of Florida             287   6. Texas A&M University              236
  7. Auburn University                 208   8. Missouri                        206.5
  9. Louisiana State University        202  10. South Carolina, University of,    188
 11. University of Arkansas            163  12. Vanderbilt University              90

Men’s team standings

  1. University of Florida             497   2. Texas A&M University             360
  3. University of Alabama             358   4. University of Tennessee        338.5
  5. Georgia, University of            308   6. Auburn University                307
  7. Kentucky, University of           277   8. Louisiana State University       277
  9. Missouri                          269  10. South Carolina, University of  202.5

Women’s Ups/Mids/Down

Tennessee 9-2-1
Georgia 3-3-5
Alabama 2-3-2
Kentucky 4-1-3
Florida 3-7-1
Texas A&M 2-1-2
Auburn 0-2-3
Missouri 1-1-2
LSU 0-1-2
South Carolina 0-3-2
Arkansas 0-0-1
Vanderbilt 0-0-0

Men’s Ups/Mids/Downs

Florida 6-5-3
Texas A&M 1-5-0
Alabama 3-2-4
Tennessee 3-4-3
Georgia 5-2-2
Auburn 2-3-3
Kentucky 1-1-3
LSU 1-0-0
Missouri 2-1-4
South Carolina 0-1-2

Women’s 400 individual medley

Walshe hammered through her breaststroke leg to take control formally, going 4:04.26 to win prelims. The swim gives Tennessee three swimmers in the A final, though the top seed entering prelims, Alexis Yager, slipped to sixth in the morning. Kentucky has three in the A final, led by Bailey Bonnett in third, while Mabel Zavaros of Florida dropped time to finish second. Crucially for the team points race, Georgia got five swimmers back but were locked out of the A final.

Event 16  Women 400 Yard IM
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 3:54.60  3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
          SEC: S 3:58.23  3/22/2019 Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M
     SEC Meet: M 3:58.35  2/17/2012 Elizabeth Beisel, Florida
         Pool: P 3:58.36  2/15/2012 Elizabeth Beisel, Florida
                 4:03.62  A
                 4:17.30  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Walshe, Ellen R  FR Tennessee-SE      4:06.07    4:04.26 qB     
    r:+0.58  26.26        56.38 (30.12)
        1:27.11 (30.73)     1:57.65 (30.54)
        2:31.04 (33.39)     3:05.80 (34.76)
        3:35.71 (29.91)     4:04.26 (28.55)
  2 Zavaros, Mabel   SO Florida-FL        4:08.30    4:07.55 qB     
    r:+0.64  25.63        55.16 (29.53)
        1:26.60 (31.44)     1:56.84 (30.24)
        2:33.17 (36.33)     3:09.79 (36.62)
        3:39.42 (29.63)     4:07.55 (28.13)
  3 Bonnett, Bailey     Kentucky-KY       4:06.96    4:08.41 qB     
    r:+0.64  26.65        56.90 (30.25)
        1:29.55 (32.65)     2:01.63 (32.08)
        2:35.70 (34.07)     3:09.98 (34.28)
        3:39.90 (29.92)     4:08.41 (28.51)
  4 Davey, Gillian   JR Kentucky-KY       4:06.34    4:08.79 qB     
    r:+0.56  26.55        56.89 (30.34)
        1:28.52 (31.63)     1:59.87 (31.35)
        2:34.00 (34.13)     3:09.24 (35.24)
        3:39.54 (30.30)     4:08.79 (29.25)
  5 Poole, Lauren M  JR Kentucky-KY       4:08.91    4:08.82 qB     
    r:+0.73  26.89        57.46 (30.57)
        1:29.16 (31.70)     2:00.08 (30.92)
        2:35.11 (35.03)     3:10.66 (35.55)
        3:40.51 (29.85)     4:08.82 (28.31)
  6 Yager, Alexis A  SR Tennessee-SE      4:05.50    4:09.41 qB     
    r:+0.60  26.73        57.56 (30.83)
        1:30.60 (33.04)     2:02.02 (31.42)
        2:36.33 (34.31)     3:11.08 (34.75)
        3:40.85 (29.77)     4:09.41 (28.56)
  7 Smith, Summer D  FR Tennessee-SE      4:10.64    4:11.45 qB     
    r:+0.72  26.18        55.87 (29.69)
        1:26.39 (30.52)     1:57.00 (30.61)
        2:34.39 (37.39)     3:12.61 (38.22)
        3:42.32 (29.71)     4:11.45 (29.13)
  8 Golding, Kathleen  JR Florida-FL      4:11.10    4:12.50 qB     
    r:+0.75  26.90        57.48 (30.58)
        1:29.53 (32.05)     2:01.41 (31.88)
        2:37.14 (35.73)     3:14.04 (36.90)
        3:43.70 (29.66)     4:12.50 (28.80)

Men’s 400 individual medley

What was anticipated to be a daring double for Kieran Smith didn’t materialize, with the Florida senior instead option for just the 400 IM on Thursday instead of the double with the 200 free. Smith was quickest in the event in 3:43.26, just ahead of teammate Mason Laur. Given the depth in the 200 free, the IM might be the better team decision for the Gators’ quest for a team title.

Georgia put two in the A final, led by Andrew Abruzzo in third and Ian Grum fourth.

Event 17  Men 400 Yard IM
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 3:33.42  3/24/2017 Chase Kalisz, Georgia
          SEC: S 3:33.42  3/24/2017 Chase Kalisz, Georgia
     SEC Meet: M 3:35.76  2/16/2018 Hugo Gonzalez, Auburn
         Pool: P 3:36.21  2/16/2017 Chase Kalisz, Georgia
                 3:39.16  A
                 3:51.46  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Smith, Kieran S  SR Florida-FL        3:46.95    3:43.26 qB     
    r:+0.71  23.26        50.34 (27.08)
        1:19.24 (28.90)     1:46.59 (27.35)
        2:17.11 (30.52)     2:49.05 (31.94)
        3:17.03 (27.98)     3:43.26 (26.23)
  2 Laur, Mason A    FR Florida-FL        3:46.79    3:43.40 qB     
    r:+0.64  23.86        51.11 (27.25)
        1:19.50 (28.39)     1:47.25 (27.75)
        2:18.75 (31.50)     2:51.10 (32.35)
        3:17.65 (26.55)     3:43.40 (25.75)
  3 Abruzzo, Andrew  SR Georgia-GA             NT    3:43.85 qB     
    r:+0.75  23.63        50.45 (26.82)
        1:18.95 (28.50)     1:46.87 (27.92)
        2:18.44 (31.57)     2:51.45 (33.01)
        3:18.24 (26.79)     3:43.85 (25.61)
  4 Grum, Ian P      JR Georgia-GA        3:47.44    3:44.61 qB     
    r:+0.73  23.69        50.59 (26.90)
        1:19.03 (28.44)     1:46.49 (27.46)
        2:19.17 (32.68)     2:52.68 (33.51)
        3:18.93 (26.25)     3:44.61 (25.68)
  5 Erzen, Anze F    JR Texas A&M-GU      3:44.58    3:45.21 qB     
    r:+0.66  23.71        51.21 (27.50)
        1:20.23 (29.02)     1:48.44 (28.21)
        2:20.16 (31.72)     2:52.53 (32.37)
        3:20.60 (28.07)     3:45.21 (24.61)
  6 Perera, Nicholas SR Alabama-SE        3:46.24    3:45.47 qB     
    r:+0.62  24.32        51.81 (27.49)
        1:21.72 (29.91)     1:50.14 (28.42)
        2:21.13 (30.99)     2:52.83 (31.70)
        3:19.69 (26.86)     3:45.47 (25.78)
  7 Rosely, Zane T   SO Kentucky-KY       3:51.66    3:45.85 qB     
    r:+0.60  24.21        51.34 (27.13)
        1:20.27 (28.93)     1:48.76 (28.49)
        2:20.49 (31.73)     2:52.62 (32.13)
        3:19.96 (27.34)     3:45.85 (25.89)
  8 Rathle, Jacques  FR Auburn-SE         3:47.19    3:45.93 qB     
    r:+0.66  24.10        51.15 (27.05)
        1:20.33 (29.18)     1:49.02 (28.69)
        2:20.58 (31.56)     2:53.06 (32.48)
        3:19.87 (26.81)     3:45.93 (26.06)

Women’s 100 butterfly

Sarah Thompson set the pace for Missouri in 51.38, slightly under her season-best. Tennessee again stands to cash in on the team points battle, with Walshe second in 51.45, Trude Rothrock third in 51.66 and Sara Stolter seventh. Mallory Beil was ninth. After being shut out of the 400 IM final, Dakota Luther and Callie Dickinson reached the A final for Georgia.

Fourth in the final is Rhyan White, the Alabama Olympian. It’s an appetizer with the backstroke events backloaded in the schedule.

Event 18  Women 100 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 48.89  3/19/2021 Maggie Macneil, Michigan
          SEC: S 49.38  2/19/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
     SEC Meet: M 49.85  2/15/2018 Erika Brown, Tennessee
         Pool: P 49.73  11/20/2020Kate Douglass, Virginia
                 50.92  A
                 53.76  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Thompson, Sarah  SR Missouri-MV         51.44      51.38 qB     
    r:+0.59  10.76        23.51 (12.75)
          37.45 (13.94)       51.38 (13.93)
  2 Walshe, Ellen R  FR Tennessee-SE        50.24      51.45 qB     
    r:+0.56  11.09        24.02 (12.93)
          37.71 (13.69)       51.45 (13.74)
  3 Rothrock, Trude  SR Tennessee-SE        52.01      51.66 qB     
    r:+0.59  11.00        24.21 (13.21)
          37.52 (13.31)       51.66 (14.14)
  4 White, Rhyan E   SR Alabama-SE          52.57      51.76 qB     
    r:+0.69  11.28        24.39 (13.11)
          37.74 (13.35)       51.76 (14.02)
  5 Luther, Dakota   SR Georgia-GA          52.58      52.19 qB     
    r:+0.71  11.44        24.43 (12.99)
          38.02 (13.59)       52.19 (14.17)
  6 Theall, Olivia   SO Texas A&M-GU        52.90      52.22 qB     
    r:+0.62  11.00        24.65 (13.65)
          38.16 (13.51)       52.22 (14.06)
  7 Stotler, Sara B  FR Tennessee-SE        52.26      52.31 qB     
    r:+0.70  11.08        24.28 (13.20)
          38.08 (13.80)       52.31 (14.23)
  8 Dickinson, Callie  SR Georgia-GA        52.93      52.33 qB     
    r:+0.67  11.41        24.75 (13.34)
          38.46 (13.71)       52.33 (13.87)

Men’s 100 butterfly

Luca Urlando set the pace in prelims, but he’s got lots of guys on his tail. The Georgia sophomore set a time of 45.32 to get to the wall first in prelims, 08 ahead of Eric Friese. But four swimmers are within a half-second, with 2022 SEC Championships 50 free winner Jordan Crooks among them.

Event 19  Men 100 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 42.80  3/23/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
          SEC: S 42.80  3/23/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
     SEC Meet: M 44.21  2/18/2017 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
         Pool: P 44.87  2/16/2017 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
                 44.96  A
                 47.43  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Urlando, Luca R  SO Georgia-GA          45.61      45.32 qB     
     r:+0.66  9.72        21.05 (11.33)
          32.90 (11.85)       45.32 (12.42)
  2 Friese, Eric E   JR Florida-FL          45.47      45.44 qB     
     r:+0.64  9.28        20.45 (11.17)
          32.63 (12.18)       45.44 (12.81)
  3 Crooks, Jordan   FR Tennessee-SE        47.06      45.60 qB     
     r:+0.62  9.46        21.14 (11.68)
          33.26 (12.12)       45.60 (12.34)
  4 Kovac, Danny D   SR Missouri-MV         45.31      45.71 qB     
     r:+0.59  9.59        21.35 (11.76)
          33.38 (12.03)       45.71 (12.33)
  5 Mota, Kayky M    SR Tennessee-SE        46.16      45.74 qB     
     r:+0.62  9.54        21.15 (11.61)
          33.07 (11.92)       45.74 (12.67)
  6 Crawford, Jace   SO Florida-FL          46.82      45.92 qB     
     r:+0.65  9.81        21.68 (11.87)
          33.65 (11.97)       45.92 (12.27)
  7 Kammann, Bjoern     Tennessee-SE        47.51      45.93 qB     
     r:+0.69  9.57        21.16 (11.59)
          33.43 (12.27)       45.93 (12.50)
  8 Sesvold, Tyler   SR Alabama-SE             NT      46.06 qB     
     r:+0.62  9.81        21.43 (11.62)
          33.69 (12.26)       46.06 (12.37)

Women’s 200 freestyle

Chloe Stepanek recovered from a down 500 free by blasting a 1:43.87 in the 200 free, a second quicker than her season-best. She’s .09 ahead of Kentucky’s Riley Gaines. Tennessee stuffed the A final with three swimmers, led by Brooklyn Douthwright in third.

Event 20  Women 200 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:39.10  3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
          SEC: S 1:41.21  3/16/2012 Megan Romano, Georgia
     SEC Meet: M 1:41.83  2/20/2014 Shannon Vreeland, Georgia
         Pool: P 1:41.40  12/6/2013 Missy Franklin, California
                 1:42.98  A
                 1:47.12  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Stepanek, Chloe  SO Texas A&M-GU      1:45.02    1:43.87 qB     
    r:+0.67  24.11        50.62 (26.51)
        1:17.58 (26.96)     1:43.87 (26.29)
  2 Gaines, Riley M  SR Kentucky-KY       1:43.81    1:43.96 qB     
    r:+0.56  24.66        50.95 (26.29)
        1:17.52 (26.57)     1:43.96 (26.44)
  3 Douthwright, Brooklyn Tennessee      1:46.24    1:43.97 qB     
    r:+0.64  24.72        51.15 (26.43)
        1:17.38 (26.23)     1:43.97 (26.59)
  4 Scott, Morgan E  SR Alabama-SE        1:45.95    1:44.65 qB     
    r:+0.67  24.48        51.19 (26.71)
        1:17.96 (26.77)     1:44.65 (26.69)
  5 Bates, Talia B   JR Florida-FL        1:44.72    1:44.91 qB     
    r:+0.61  24.35        50.80 (26.45)
        1:17.89 (27.09)     1:44.91 (27.02)
  6 Mrozinski, Julia  FR Tennessee-SE      1:44.83    1:45.02 qB     
    r:+0.61  24.05        50.63 (26.58)
        1:18.12 (27.49)     1:45.02 (26.90)
  7 Parker, Maxine   SO Georgia-GA        1:45.64    1:45.27 qB     
    r:+0.72  24.60        50.94 (26.34)
        1:17.88 (26.94)     1:45.27 (27.39)
  8 Pintar, Tjasa    SR Tennessee-SE      1:45.77    1:45.39 qB     
    r:+0.66  24.61        51.28 (26.67)
        1:18.33 (27.05)     1:45.39 (27.06)

Men’s 200 free

Ah, that crowded 200 free, the clear strength on the men’s side of the 2022 SEC Championships. Matt Sates, the champion in the 500 free, led the way in 1:32.59, followed by Missouri’s Jack Dahlgren. Florida’s Trey Freeman is third to fill the gap left by Smith. Jake Magahey, third in the 500 free, is fourth. The runner-up in the 50 free, Brooks Curry, is fifth.

Event 21  Men 200 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:29.15  3/27/2019 Dean Farris, Harvard
          SEC: S 1:29.48  2/23/2021 Kieran Smith, Florida
     SEC Meet: M 1:29.48  2/22/2021 Kieran Smith, Florida
         Pool: P 1:31.65  12/5/2013 Joao De Lucca, Louisville
                 1:32.05  A
                 1:36.32  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Sates, Matthew   FR Georgia-GA        1:33.89    1:32.59 qB     
    r:+0.62  21.48        45.29 (23.81)
        1:08.71 (23.42)     1:32.59 (23.88)
  2 Dahlgren, Jack   SR Missouri-MV       1:33.55    1:32.84 qB     
    r:+0.59  21.66        45.10 (23.44)
        1:08.71 (23.61)     1:32.84 (24.13)
  3 Freeman, Trey P  JR Florida-FL        1:32.92    1:33.04 qB     
    r:+0.63  21.80        45.38 (23.58)
        1:09.48 (24.10)     1:33.04 (23.56)
  4 Magahey, Jake M  SO Georgia-GA        1:35.76    1:33.37 qB     
    r:+0.68  21.98        45.52 (23.54)
        1:09.39 (23.87)     1:33.37 (23.98)
  5 Curry, Brooks V  JR LSU-LA            1:33.15    1:33.49 qB     
    r:+0.59  21.29        45.25 (23.96)
        1:09.56 (24.31)     1:33.49 (23.93)
  6 Alves, Kaique K  FR Alabama-SE        1:33.56    1:33.65 qB     
    r:+0.66  21.76        45.63 (23.87)
        1:09.83 (24.20)     1:33.65 (23.82)
  7 Bonson, Michael  SO Auburn-SE         1:35.26    1:33.97 qB     
    r:+0.73  21.79        45.37 (23.58)
        1:09.78 (24.41)     1:33.97 (24.19)
  8 Bratanov, Kaloy  SR Texas A&M-GU      1:34.64    1:34.02 qB     
    r:+0.65  21.82        45.67 (23.85)
        1:09.86 (24.19)     1:34.02 (24.16)
  8 Mestre, Alfonso  JR Florida-FL        1:34.03    1:34.02 qB     
    r:+0.68  21.84        45.50 (23.66)
        1:09.98 (24.48)     1:34.02 (24.04)

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