Alabama Sweeps Kentucky in Two-Day SEC Dual Meet
The University of Alabama swim and dive teams traveled north to Lexington, Ky., over the weekend for a two-day conference dual meet, and the Crimson Tide women overcame the Wildcats in a close contest not decided until the last few events, winning 163-156 largely thanks to a pair of relay wins and four individual double winners. The Alabama men built a bit more of an edge, beating Kentucky 175-144 with Charlie Hawke leading the way.
Alabama’s women began the meet with a 1-2 finish in the 200 medley relay, with Ella Menear, Avery Wiseman, Gaby Van Brunt and Diana Petkova combining for a top time of 1:38.25. Immediately after, a blazing finish from Liberty Williams helped her pull ahead of the Wildcats’ Grace Frericks for the win in the 500 freestyle, with Williams clocking 4:47.30. Williams would later add a win in the 1650 free (16:27.06).
Cadence Vincent won the 50 free in 22.64, with fellow Crimson Tide swimmers Kailyn Winter and Jada Surrell-Norwood helping to secure a 1-2-3 sweep. Vincent became a double winner later on as she touched in 49.31 in the 100 free, and this time, it was a 1-2-3-4 sweep with Petkova second, Surrell-Norwood third and Winter fourth.
Van Brunt won the 100 butterfly (52.60) and 200 butterfly (1:57.71), and Wiseman led the way in both the 100 breaststroke (59.38) and 200 breaststroke (2:09.82). The 400 free relay went to the Bama team of Vincent, Petkova, Winter and Surrell-Norwood in 3:17.53.
For Kentucky, Frericks was victorious in the 200 free (1:47.13) and 200 backstroke (1:54.14), and Torie Buerger secured the win in the 100 back (52.86). Kentucky’s Marie Belli topped the 200 IM (2:00.10), and Caroline Benda won the 400 IM (4:15.45). Kentucky also had success in diving, with Claire McDaniels topping the platform event (259.43) and Abby Devereaux winning on 3-meter (303.30) and 1-meter (282.98).
On the men’s side, Bama opened the meet in similar fashion to the women’s, with a 1-2 finish in the 200 medley relay. Tommy Hagar, Kaique Alves, Bernardo De Almeida and Hawke led the way in 1:26.16. Immediately after, Hawke won his first individual event in the 500 free (4:22.39). and later in the meet, he topped the 200 free in 1:33.34. De Almeida later won the 100 fly (47.08). Hawke and Alves returned for the meet-ending 400 free relay, with Zarek Wilson leading off and Tim Korstanje anchoring on the way to a winning time of 2:52.26.
Kostanje got the win in the 50 free (19.76), and Colten Cryer was first in platform diving (223.20). Trey Sheils claimed first place in the 100 breast (53.51), and Eric Stemlar won the 100 back (48.13). Jake Marcum got the win in the 200 back (1:44.37), with Michael Deans coming in ahead of the field in the 200 breast (1:57.27).
In the defeat, Ryan Merani had a big meet for Kentucky, winning the 200 IM (1:46.03), 400 IM (3:45.98) and 200 fly (1:44.18). On the boards, Sam Duncan swept 1-meter (370.05) and 3-meter (372.45) diving. Levi Sandidge posted a strong time of 14:44.89 for the win in the 1650 free, and Max Berg won the 100 free in 43.27, touching out Alabama’s Alves (43.33).