SEC Championships, Day 5 Prelims: Emma Sticklen, Luca Urlando Set Pace in 200 Flys
The SEC Championships are, among their many superlatives, the place for 200 butterfliers this week. Texas’ Emma Sticklen entered the meet with the fastest time in the nation on the women’s side. Luca Urlando is barely a month removed from setting the NCAA record in the men’s 200 fly.
Both set the pace Friday morning in preliminaries of the 200 flys, with the potential for fireworks on tap in the night session.
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Friday’s night session will include the finals of women’s platform diving as well as the men’s and women’s 400 medley relays.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 20 1. University of Texas 888.5 2. University of Florida 576 3. University of Tennessee 556 4. Georgia, University of 441.5 5. Texas A&M University 347 6. South Carolina, University of, 344 7. Louisiana State University 308 8. University of Alabama 289 9. Auburn University 242.5 10. Missouri 208.5 11. Kentucky, University of 166 12. University of Arkansas 146 13. Vanderbilt University 89
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 22 1. University of Texas 827.5 2. University of Florida 714 3. University of Tennessee 526.5 4. Georgia, University of 463 5. Texas A&M University 377 6. University of Alabama 329 7. Auburn University 308 8. Louisiana State University 295 9. Kentucky, University of 231 10. South Carolina, University of, 164 11. Missouri 157
Women’s 200 butterfly
Emma Sticklen cruised to the top seed in the 200 fly, going 1:50.01. She has been 1:49.54 in season, which set the SEC record. She is the two-time reigning NCAA champion in the event. She lowers her pool record from NCAAs last year, which was 1:50.99.
Chasing her are three Tennessee swimmers in the A final, led by Sara Stolter, the second seed in 1:52.66. Texas’ hold on the team title is likely to be solidified further with Campbell Stoll third and Olivia Bray tied for fourth with South Carolina’s Greta Pelzek.
Event 23 Women 200 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
NCAA: N 1:49.16 2/23/2024 Alex Walsh, Virginia
SEC: S 1:49.54 11/22/2024Emma Sticklen, Texas
SEC Meet: M 1:51.45 2024 Bella Sims, Florida
Pool: P 1:50.99 3/22/2024 Emma Sticklen, Texas
1:52.47 A
1:58.93 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Sticklen, Emma GS Texas 1:49.54 1:50.01PqA
r:+0.67 23.84 51.14 (27.30)
1:19.91 (28.77) 1:50.01 (30.10)
2 Stotler, Sara B Tennessee-SE 1:54.19 1:52.66 qB
r:+0.52 24.79 53.32 (28.53)
1:22.49 (29.17) 1:52.66 (30.17)
3 Stoll, Campbell SO Texas 1:54.34 1:52.97 qB
r:+0.47 24.97 53.23 (28.26)
1:22.78 (29.55) 1:52.97 (30.19)
4 Pelzek, Greta J SR South Carolina-S 1:53.93 1:53.15 qB
r:+0.49 25.75 54.35 (28.60)
1:23.42 (29.07) 1:53.15 (29.73)
4 Bray, Olivia G GS Texas 1:52.68 1:53.15 qB
r:+0.73 24.88 53.60 (28.72)
1:23.00 (29.40) 1:53.15 (30.15)
6 Jansen, Ella Tennessee-SE 1:54.55 1:54.28 qB
r:+0.64 25.47 54.29 (28.82)
1:24.14 (29.85) 1:54.28 (30.14)
7 Sartori, Sofia JR LSU-LA 1:55.10 1:54.34 qB
r:+0.56 25.76 54.75 (28.99)
1:24.54 (29.79) 1:54.34 (29.80)
8 Brown, Emily Tennessee-SE 1:53.91 1:54.46 qB
r:+0.73 25.29 53.83 (28.54)
1:23.46 (29.63) 1:54.46 (31.00)
Men’s 200 butterfly
Luca Urlando didn’t hit the 1:37.17 speed he’d showed in January. But his 1:38.86 on Friday morning was more than a second clear as the top seed and downed the meet record of 1:39.00 he had set in 2022. It’s his race to lose, though the chasers are jumbled, with six on 1:40-point.
Martin Espernberger, the only one of the group to be sub 1:40 this year, was second in 1:40.10. His Tennessee teammate Bjorn Kammann is also in the A final at 1:40.81. Jake Magahey is the third seed in 1:40.31, .12 ahead of Auburn’s Danny Schmidt.
Event 24 Men 200 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
NCAA: N 1:37.17 1/17/2025 Luca Urlando, Georgia
SEC: S 1:37.17 11/25/2025Luca Urlando, Georgia
SEC Meet: M 1:39.00 2022 Luca Urlando, Georgia
Pool: P 1:39.14 11/23/2024Josh Liendo, Florida
1:40.05 A
1:45.34 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Urlando, Luca R SR UGA 1:37.17 1:38.86MqA
r:+0.65 22.10 47.02 (24.92)
1:12.16 (25.14) 1:38.86 (26.70)
2 Espernberger, M Tennessee-SE 1:39.34 1:40.10 qB
r:+0.62 22.29 47.58 (25.29)
1:13.63 (26.05) 1:40.10 (26.47)
3 Magahey, Jake M 5Y UGA 1:40.07 1:40.31 qB
r:+0.71 22.49 48.28 (25.79)
1:14.30 (26.02) 1:40.31 (26.01)
4 Schmidt, Danny JR Auburn-SE 1:42.51 1:40.43 qB
r:+0.62 22.16 47.72 (25.56)
1:14.14 (26.42) 1:40.43 (26.29)
5 Kammann, Bjoern Tennessee-SE 1:40.75 1:40.81 qB
r:+0.71 21.88 47.64 (25.76)
1:13.93 (26.29) 1:40.81 (26.88)
6 Merani, Ryan B JR Kentucky-KY 1:42.77 1:40.88 qB
r:+0.58 22.70 48.48 (25.78)
1:14.55 (26.07) 1:40.88 (26.33)
7 Branon, Jr., Ry JR Texas 1:41.52 1:40.89 qB
r:+0.65 22.39 48.03 (25.64)
1:14.07 (26.04) 1:40.89 (26.82)
8 Hitchcock, Drew FR UGA 1:41.84 1:41.09 qB
r:+0.66 22.73 48.48 (25.75)
1:14.56 (26.08) 1:41.09 (26.53)
Women’s 100 backstroke
Josephine Fuller led the way in the 100 back with a time of 50.67. That may not be enough to wrest the favorite status away from Florida’s Bella Sims, who has branched out at this meet in her event selection. She was second in 50.76 on Friday morning, though her 49.93, which is the SEC record, is the only sub-50 swim of the field.
Texas’s Berit Berglund was the third seed in 51.41, .05 up on Eboni McCarty of Georgia. Florida was the only school with two A finalists.
Event 25 Women 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
NCAA: N 48.10 2/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
SEC: S 49.93 11/20/2024Bella Sims, Florida
SEC Meet: M 50.02 2020 Rhyan White, Alabama
Pool: P 48.55 3/22/2024 Katherine Berkoff, NC State
50.66 A
53.53 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Fuller, Josephi Tennessee-SE 50.85 50.67 qB
r:+0.70 11.74 24.44 (12.70)
37.61 (13.17) 50.67 (13.06)
2 Sims, Bella G SO FLOR-FL 49.93 50.76 qB
r:+0.71 12.53 24.91 (12.38)
37.80 (12.89) 50.76 (12.96)
3 Berglund, Berit SO Texas 51.55 51.41 qB
r:+0.63 12.27 25.07 (12.80)
38.25 (13.18) 51.41 (13.16)
4 McCarty, Eboni JR UGA 51.28 51.46 qB
r:+0.65 12.05 24.67 (12.62)
37.90 (13.23) 51.46 (13.56)
5 Choate, Catie G SO FLOR-FL 51.60 51.54 qB
r:+0.61 11.92 24.64 (12.72)
37.93 (13.29) 51.54 (13.61)
6 Komoroczy, Lora FR Auburn-SE 51.37 51.68 qB
r:+0.53 11.73 24.53 (12.80)
37.93 (13.40) 51.68 (13.75)
6 Jones, Emily JR Alabama-SE 50.75 51.68 qB
r:+0.61 11.85 24.82 (12.97)
38.19 (13.37) 51.68 (13.49)
8 Carlos-Broc, Zo FR LSU-LA 51.81 51.71 qB
r:+0.59 12.29 25.19 (12.90)
38.46 (13.27) 51.71 (13.25)
Men’s 100 backstroke
Sans Luca Urlando, owner of the NCAA record in this event, Jonny Marshall set the pace in prelims with a time of 44.35 that is a season-best. He downed Ruard van Renen’s Gabrielsen Natatorium record of 44.50 from November 2023. (Van Renen squeaked into the A final in seventh in 45.25.)
Despite the Florida sophomore Marshall’s speed, eyes will be on Texas. Will Modglin was the top seed entering the meet, having gone 43.91. He went 44.64 in the morning. Hubert Kos is looming in third at 44.68, and Texas snuck a third A finalist in with Kyle Peck eighth.
Event 26 Men 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
NCAA: N 43.35 3/25/2022 Luca Urlando, Georgia
SEC: S 43.35 3/25/2022 Luca Urlando, Georgia
SEC Meet: M 44.10 2020 Zane Waddell, Alabama
Pool: P 44.50 11/17/2023Ruard van Renen, Georgia
44.48 A
47.16 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Marshall, Jonny SO FLOR-FL 45.02 44.35PqA
r:+0.68 10.16 20.99 (10.83)
32.50 (11.51) 44.35 (11.85)
2 Modglin, Will C SO Texas 43.91 44.64 qB
r:+0.67 10.01 21.18 (11.17)
32.72 (11.54) 44.64 (11.92)
3 Kos, Hubert JR Texas 44.60 44.68 qB
r:+0.75 10.48 21.45 (10.97)
32.98 (11.53) 44.68 (11.70)
4 Lierz, Harrison Tennessee-SE 45.25 45.11 qB
r:+0.72 10.71 21.74 (11.03)
33.42 (11.68) 45.11 (11.69)
5 Stoffle, Nathan SR Auburn-SE 45.04 45.16 qB
r:+0.62 10.65 21.87 (11.22)
33.39 (11.52) 45.16 (11.77)
6 Buff, Scotty SO FLOR-FL 46.04 45.23 qB
r:+0.66 10.57 21.77 (11.20)
33.36 (11.59) 45.23 (11.87)
7 Van Renen, Ruar JR UGA 45.03 45.25 qB
r:+0.57 10.76 21.88 (11.12)
33.57 (11.69) 45.25 (11.68)
8 Peck, Kyle FR Texas 45.02 45.32 qB
r:+0.72 10.75 21.90 (11.15)
33.70 (11.80) 45.32 (11.62)
Women’s 100 breaststroke
Tennessee has the top two seeds, with McKenzie Siroky leading the way in 57.41, a season-best time for her. Also clocking a season-best – since her season is only a month old – is Irish Olympic medalist Mona McSharry, who blasted a 57.42 from an early heat. She owns the meet record at 57.06 and the SEC record at 56.64, though she may not be ramped up to challenge those until NCAAs.
Anita Bottazzo of Florida, who entered with the to seed, was third in 58.24. Texas’ Piper Enge wasn’t far behind in 58.36.
Event 27 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
NCAA: N 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
SEC: S 56.64 3/24/2024 Mona McSherry, Tennessee
SEC Meet: M 57.06 2024 Mona McSharry, Tennessee
Pool: P 56.09 3/22/2024 Jasmine Nocenti, Virginia
58.01 A
1:01.22 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Siroky, McKenzi Tennessee-SE 57.80 57.41 qA
r:+0.62 12.07 27.04 (14.97)
41.92 (14.88) 57.41 (15.49)
2 McSharry, Mona Tennessee-SE 1:00.13 57.42 qA
r:+0.68 12.35 27.02 (14.67)
41.93 (14.91) 57.42 (15.49)
3 Bottazzo, Anita FR FLOR-FL 57.49 58.24 qB
r:+0.64 12.31 27.01 (14.70)
42.14 (15.13) 58.24 (16.10)
4 Enge, Piper FR Texas 57.69 58.36 qB
r:+0.60 12.32 27.28 (14.96)
42.58 (15.30) 58.36 (15.78)
5 Wiseman, Avery SR Alabama-SE 59.14 58.82 qB
r:+0.67 12.68 27.64 (14.96)
42.89 (15.25) 58.82 (15.93)
6 Arens, Abigail GS Texas 59.06 58.83 qB
r:+0.48 12.55 27.62 (15.07)
43.06 (15.44) 58.83 (15.77)
7 Mayne, Molly SO FLOR-FL 58.97 58.89 qB
r:+0.53 12.52 27.56 (15.04)
42.90 (15.34) 58.89 (15.99)
8 Makarova, Stasy SR Auburn-SE 59.40 59.23 qB
r:+0.49 12.83 28.08 (15.25)
43.24 (15.16) 59.23 (15.99)
Men’s 100 breaststroke
With an in-season 49, the SEC record, Julian Smith is the man to beat. The Florida senior led the way Friday with a time of 50.46 seconds. He was two tenths up on Texas’s Nate Germonprez. Florida’s Aleksas Savickas finished third in 51.35, with three more 51-highs following, including two from LSU led by Mitch Mason.
Event 28 Men 100 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
NCAA: N 49.53 3/29/2024 Liam Bell, California
SEC: S 49.98 11/21/2024Julian Smith, Florida
SEC Meet: M 50.03 2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
Pool: P 49.98 11/21/2024Julian Smith, Florida
51.02 A
53.43 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Smith, Julian SR FLOR-FL 49.98 50.46 qA
r:+0.66 10.61 23.59 (12.98)
36.89 (13.30) 50.46 (13.57)
2 Germonprez, Nat SO Texas 50.39 50.66 qA
r:+0.68 10.67 23.72 (13.05)
36.96 (13.24) 50.66 (13.70)
3 Savickas, Aleks JR FLOR-FL 51.36 51.35 qB
r:+0.63 10.87 24.16 (13.29)
37.45 (13.29) 51.35 (13.90)
4 Alves, Kaique SR Alabama-SE 52.64 51.80 qB
r:+0.64 10.80 24.04 (13.24)
37.78 (13.74) 51.80 (14.02)
5 Mason, Mitch K SR LSU-LA 52.08 51.92 qB
r:+0.70 11.03 24.42 (13.39)
37.97 (13.55) 51.92 (13.95)
6 Lisovets, Volod LSU-LA 52.77 51.96 qB
r:+0.69 10.89 24.36 (13.47)
37.99 (13.63) 51.96 (13.97)
7 Sanchez, Alex R GS Texas A&M-GU 52.07 52.08 qB
r:+0.61 11.03 24.75 (13.72)
38.01 (13.26) 52.08 (14.07)
8 Pitshugin, Kris SO UGA 52.95 52.16 qB
r:+0.58 10.88 24.20 (13.32)
37.85 (13.65) 52.16 (14.31)
