As Florida’s Caeleb Dressel stood atop the podium after the 100-yard freestyle at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Missouri, he did the iconic Gator chop. The sophomore led the Florida men to a team win at the Southeastern Conference Championships, winning three individual events and setting two American records.
The Gators scored 1275 points. Auburn (1223), Georgia (1010), Alabama (915) and Missouri (902) rounded out the top five teams.
On the women’s side, Texas A&M took the team title. The Aggies scored 1166.5 points. They were followed by Tennessee (1139.5), Georgia (1099.5), Auburn (797) and Missouri (764).
Georgia’s Brittany MacLean made a statement early in the 1650-yard freestyle. The senior posted a SEC meet record time of 15:36.52, winning by nearly 30 seconds. Florida’s Jess Thielmann touched second in 16:06.21, and Tennessee’s Madeline Tegner picked up a bronze medal with a time of 16:06.21.
In the men’s event, South Carolina’s Akaram Mahmoud won by over 13 seconds with a time of 14:35.49. Tom Peribonio, his Gamecock teammate, took third in 14:50.90. Florida’s Arthur Frayler was grabbed a silver medal with a time of 14:49.22.
Texas A&M’s Lisa Bratton touched first in the women’s 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:50.64. She was less than a second ahead of Danielle Galyer of Kentucky, who finished in 1:50.73. Georgia also picked up key team points in the event, as Hali Flickinger and Kylie Stewart finished third and fourth, respectively.
Auburn’s Joe Patching picked up his second gold medal of the SEC Championships in the men’s event. He posted a winning time of 1:40.14. Alabama picked up major team points, as Crimson Tide swimmers finished in second and third place. Connor Oslin was second with a time of 1:40.42 and Christopher Reid took third in 1:40.95.
In the women’s 100-yard freestyle, Florida’s Natalie Hinds brought home a gold medal with a time of 47.35. Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga continued her strong meet with a second place finish, touching in 47.49. Texas A&M’s Beryl Gastaldello was third in 47.89.
Dressel set his second American record with a time of 41.07, beating Nathan Adrian‘s 2009 time of 41.08. Missouri’s Michael Chadwick treated the home crowd to a silver medal finish, posting a time of 41.96. Auburn’s Peter Holoda was third, touching in 42.42.
Texas A&M had a 1-2 finish in the women’s 200-yard breaststroke. Bethany Galat touched first in 2:07.83 and was followed by Sydney Pickrem. Auburn’s Annie Lazor was third with a time of 2:08.31.
In the men’s race, Auburn’s Michael Duderstadt picked up the win with a time of 1:53.50. He was followed by Missouri’s Fabian Schwingenschlogl and South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen.
Tennessee’s Rachel Rubadue took first in women’s platform diving with a score of 330.50. Alais Kalonji of Texas A&M was second and South Carolina’s Allyson Nied took the bronze medal.
Tennessee’s strong 100-yard freestylers teamed up to win the 400-yard freestyle relay. The team of Kira Toussaint, Madeline Banic, Harper Bruens and Faith Johnson posted a time of 3:12.04. Georgia took the silver medal, touching in 3:12.74. The Bulldog team consisted of Smoliga, Meaghan Raab, Stewart and Flickinger. Florida’s team of Amelia Maughan, Hinds, Ashlee Linn and Mollie Pulte took the bronze with a time of 3:14.49.
Auburn ended the meet with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Tigers team of Arthur Mendes, Kyle Darmody, Duderstadt and Holoda touched in 2:48.64. The Gators finished second, posting a time of 2:50.30. The team consisted of Dressel, Mark Szaranek, Jan Switkowski and Corey Main. Alabama’s team of Laurent Bams, Christopher Reid, Robert Howard and Kristian Gkolomeev took third place with a time of 2:51.31.
MacLean was named the female swimmer of the meet, and Dressel took home the honor for the men. Florida’s Khalia Warner was the female diver of the meet and Mauricio Robles earned the men’s honor.
Probably first time a Gamecock gas won the ” Mike” and as he is I believe N Egyptian national hopefully he can yes thus time as a basis for Rio qualifying.
Give Messrs. Sun/Paltrinueri/ Kis and — yes! — likely Mr. Jaeger too something to think about ‘tween now and early August.
And certainly Messrs. Manadou, Adrian, McEvoy, perhaps even Mr. Magnussen, Mr. Stravius and a certain Brazilian double world record- holder whose name escapes me at present but has a tad bit of familiarity with the Southeastern Conference now have a new name to think about before The Big Dance begins.
Dressel: American Record 18.23 50 free, American Record 41.07 100 free, SEC Record 44.80 100 fly.
How tall is Natalie Hinds? Caleb is 6ft 3 and she is a good inch taller?