SEC Championships Prelims Day 2: Josh Liendo, Jordan Crooks Bring Heat in 50
It took until the end of the first morning session of the 2023 SEC Championships for things to really get cooking. The men’s sprinters made sure of that.
Nathan Adrian’s Student Recreation Aquatic Center had held since he 2009 NCAA championships. It was downed twice in about a minute, thanks to Jordan Crooks and Josh Liendo.
Liendo went 18.35 to trounce Adrian’s pool mark of 18.71, then Crooks undercut it with an 18.25 that nearly also swept away the meet mark. Those two are the top seeds in the 50 free Wednesday night.
All the morning action from Texas A&M:
- SEC Championships Central
- Live Results
- Live Stream
- SEC Swimming News
- SEC Championships Night 1 Results
- SEC Championships, Night 1: Tennessee Men Set SEC Record; Maggie MacNeil Splits Best-Ever 22.52
SEC Championships Team Scores
- (after Night 1)
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 5 1. Louisiana State University 178 2. University of Florida 150 3. Kentucky, University of 149 4. South Carolina, University of, 142 5. University of Tennessee 136 6. University of Alabama 131 7. Auburn University 119 8. Georgia, University of 107 9. Missouri 105 10. University of Arkansas 97 11. Vanderbilt University 62 12. Texas A&M University 56
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 6 1. Texas A&M University 229 2. Auburn University 166 3. University of Tennessee 159 4. University of Florida 138 5. Missouri 126 6. South Carolina, University of, 115 7. Georgia, University of 113 8. University of Alabama 107 9. Kentucky, University of 86 10. Louisiana State University 65
Women’s 500 freestyle
Two of the top three spots in the women’s 500 freestyle belonged to a pair of Steges. Georgia sophomore Rachel Stege set the pace in the morning with a time of 4:38.19, her older sister Kristen Stege third in 4:39.73.
Rachel Stege led four swimmers under 4:40 to set the pace. Her big sis Kristen Stege, a senior at Tennessee who finished third in the event last year, was third. In between was Florida’s Emma Weyant.
Last year’s runner-up, Kensey McMahon of Alabama, is the fifth seed in 4:40.13, well within the contending pack. Not among that group is the reigning 500 free champ, Tennessee’s Julia Mrozinski, who finished 20th in 4:44.97 to make the C final.
Event 9 Women 500 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
NCAA: N 4:24.06 3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
SEC: S 4:32.53 3/21/2014 Brittany MacLean, Georgia
SEC Meet: M 4:33.10 2/17/2016 Brittany MacLean, Georgia
POOL: P 4:27.84 11/16/2017Katie Ledecky, STAN
4:35.76 A
4:47.20 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Stege, Rachel G SO Georgia 4:42.65 4:38.19 qB
r:+0.70 25.53 53.03 (27.50)
1:21.08 (28.05) 1:49.24 (28.16)
2:17.53 (28.29) 2:45.86 (28.33)
3:14.29 (28.43) 3:42.63 (28.34)
4:10.78 (28.15) 4:38.19 (27.41)
2 Weyant, Emma J SO Florida-FL 4:45.14 4:39.26 qB
r:+0.71 25.95 53.72 (27.77)
1:21.78 (28.06) 1:49.93 (28.15)
2:17.93 (28.00) 2:46.25 (28.32)
3:14.65 (28.40) 3:43.50 (28.85)
4:12.04 (28.54) 4:39.26 (27.22)
3 Stege, Kristen SR Tennessee-SE 4:45.66 4:39.73 qB
r:+0.78 25.62 52.85 (27.23)
1:20.84 (27.99) 1:48.84 (28.00)
2:17.21 (28.37) 2:45.68 (28.47)
3:14.19 (28.51) 3:42.93 (28.74)
4:11.80 (28.87) 4:39.73 (27.93)
4 Miller, Hayden FR Florida-FL 4:43.56 4:39.88 qB
r:+0.84 25.87 53.21 (27.34)
1:21.04 (27.83) 1:49.20 (28.16)
2:17.56 (28.36) 2:46.04 (28.48)
3:14.54 (28.50) 3:43.10 (28.56)
4:11.59 (28.49) 4:39.88 (28.29)
5 McMahon, Kensey SR Alabama-SE 4:41.83 4:40.13 qB
r:+0.75 26.24 54.41 (28.17)
1:22.46 (28.05) 1:50.51 (28.05)
2:18.80 (28.29) 2:47.43 (28.63)
3:16.05 (28.62) 3:44.44 (28.39)
4:12.69 (28.25) 4:40.13 (27.44)
6 Barczyk, Jillia SR Georgia 4:44.02 4:41.01 qB
r:+0.66 25.54 53.56 (28.02)
1:21.84 (28.28) 1:49.99 (28.15)
2:18.23 (28.24) 2:46.82 (28.59)
3:15.54 (28.72) 3:44.36 (28.82)
4:12.98 (28.62) 4:41.01 (28.03)
7 Mathieu, Tylor SR Florida-FL 4:40.23 4:41.08 qB
r:+0.75 26.29 54.51 (28.22)
1:22.57 (28.06) 1:50.90 (28.33)
2:19.14 (28.24) 2:47.51 (28.37)
3:16.00 (28.49) 3:44.77 (28.77)
4:13.47 (28.70) 4:41.08 (27.61)
8 Wheeler, Kaitly SR Kentucky 4:40.56 4:41.32 qB
r:+0.61 25.82 54.45 (28.63)
1:22.77 (28.32) 1:51.28 (28.51)
2:19.56 (28.28) 2:47.68 (28.12)
3:15.85 (28.17) 3:43.94 (28.09)
4:12.50 (28.56) 4:41.32 (28.82)
Men’s 500 freestyle
The departures of last year’s champion (Matt Sates) and runner-up (Kieran Smith) make he 500 wide open his year, and swimmers are queuing up to fill the gap.
Top seed Jake Magahey of Georgia is safely through to the A final in third a 4:13.18, but he’s got two Gators in front of him. Alfonso Mestre set the pace in prelims in 4:12.08, teammate Jake Mitchell less than half a second behind. Two other Gators are in the A final and six are in the top 10 in their chase for a team crown. Auburn’s Michael Bonson is the fourth seed.
Event 10 Men 500 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
NCAA: N 4:06.32 2/19/2020 Kieran Smith, Florida
SEC: S 4:06.32 2/19/2020 Kieran Smith, Florida
SEC Meet: M 4:06.32 2/19/2020 Kieran Smith, Florida
POOL: P 4:08.92 3/26/2009 Jean Basson, ARIZ
4:11.40 A
4:22.35 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Mestre, Alfonso SR Florida-FL 4:11.03 4:12.08 qB
r:+0.72 22.76 47.71 (24.95)
1:12.98 (25.27) 1:38.51 (25.53)
2:03.82 (25.31) 2:29.52 (25.70)
2:55.01 (25.49) 3:20.77 (25.76)
3:46.61 (25.84) 4:12.08 (25.47)
2 Mitchell, Jake JR Florida-FL 4:13.00 4:12.54 qB
r:+0.69 22.61 47.11 (24.50)
1:12.18 (25.07) 1:37.60 (25.42)
2:03.25 (25.65) 2:29.00 (25.75)
2:54.88 (25.88) 3:20.78 (25.90)
3:46.89 (26.11) 4:12.54 (25.65)
3 Magahey, Jake M JR Georgia 4:09.83 4:13.18 qB
r:+0.70 23.64 49.18 (25.54)
1:15.10 (25.92) 1:41.06 (25.96)
2:06.84 (25.78) 2:32.45 (25.61)
2:57.76 (25.31) 3:23.03 (25.27)
3:48.23 (25.20) 4:13.18 (24.95)
4 Bonson, Michael JR Auburn-SE 4:13.30 4:13.96 qB
r:+0.68 23.28 48.98 (25.70)
1:14.99 (26.01) 1:41.10 (26.11)
2:06.49 (25.39) 2:31.99 (25.50)
2:57.46 (25.47) 3:23.03 (25.57)
3:48.72 (25.69) 4:13.96 (25.24)
5 Linscheer, Giov FR Florida-FL 4:19.95 4:14.22 qB
r:+0.69 24.16 49.73 (25.57)
1:15.39 (25.66) 1:41.08 (25.69)
2:06.66 (25.58) 2:32.38 (25.72)
2:58.05 (25.67) 3:23.71 (25.66)
3:49.20 (25.49) 4:14.22 (25.02)
6 Hawke, Charlie SO Alabama-SE 4:16.57 4:14.36 qB
r:+0.75 23.13 48.47 (25.34)
1:14.04 (25.57) 1:39.59 (25.55)
2:05.12 (25.53) 2:30.73 (25.61)
2:56.75 (26.02) 3:22.82 (26.07)
3:48.85 (26.03) 4:14.36 (25.51)
7 Brown, Eric G FR Florida-FL 4:17.67 4:14.39 qB
r:+0.71 23.14 48.36 (25.22)
1:13.71 (25.35) 1:39.74 (26.03)
2:05.63 (25.89) 2:31.38 (25.75)
2:57.10 (25.72) 3:22.93 (25.83)
3:48.93 (26.00) 4:14.39 (25.46)
8 Johansson, Vict SR Alabama-SE 4:14.34 4:15.04 qB
r:+0.73 23.64 49.07 (25.43)
1:14.62 (25.55) 1:40.39 (25.77)
2:06.22 (25.83) 2:31.91 (25.69)
2:57.84 (25.93) 3:23.93 (26.09)
3:49.86 (25.93) 4:15.04 (25.18)
Women’s 200 individual medley
Tennessee has the top seed in the 200 IM final thanks to Josephine Fuller, who went 1:54.09. She had been 14th in the race last year. Sara Stolter joins her in the A final.
Second is Zoie Hartman of Georgia in 1:54.76. Cat Wright grabs Alabama an A-final spot in 1:55.82.
Event 11 Women 200 Yard IM
==================================================================
NCAA: N 1:50.08 3/17/2022 A. Wallsh, Virginia
SEC: S 1:51.62 2/20/2019 Meghan Small, Tennessee
SEC Meet: M 1:51.62 2/20/2019 Meghan Small, Tennessee
POOL: P 1:52.69 2/15/2018 Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M
1:53.66 A
1:59.56 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Fuller, Josephi SO Tennessee-SE 1:55.54 1:54.09 qB
r:+0.68 24.81 52.43 (27.62)
1:25.46 (33.03) 1:54.09 (28.63)
2 Hartman, Zoie E SR Georgia 1:54.26 1:54.76 qB
r:+0.71 25.47 53.78 (28.31)
1:26.62 (32.84) 1:54.76 (28.14)
3 Wright, Cat G SR Alabama-SE 1:57.08 1:55.82 qB
r:+0.66 25.64 55.03 (29.39)
1:27.62 (32.59) 1:55.82 (28.20)
4 Dixon, Zoe A FR Florida-FL 1:57.20 1:55.85 qB
r:+0.65 24.76 53.48 (28.72)
1:27.24 (33.76) 1:55.85 (28.61)
5 Poole, Lauren M SR Kentucky 1:55.33 1:55.91 qB
r:+0.71 25.08 53.52 (28.44)
1:27.64 (34.12) 1:55.91 (28.27)
6 Stotler, Sara B SO Tennessee-SE 1:56.96 1:56.21 qB
r:+0.71 24.72 53.68 (28.96)
1:28.20 (34.52) 1:56.21 (28.01)
7 Petkova, Diana JR Alabama-SE 1:57.97 1:56.31 qB
r:+0.71 25.18 54.63 (29.45)
1:28.19 (33.56) 1:56.31 (28.12)
8 Kwan, Victoria GR South Carolina-S 1:58.28 1:56.78 qB
r:+0.68 25.35 54.68 (29.33)
1:28.47 (33.79) 1:56.78 (28.31)
Men’s 200 individual medley
Seizing the home-pool advantage, Texas A&M took the top two seeds in the 200 IM, with Baylor Nelson leading the way in 1:41.71 and Kaloyan Bratanov in 1:42.18. Florida snuck three into the A final, with Julian Smith leading the way in fifth. Georgia’s Zach Hils was third.
Event 12 Men 200 Yard IM
==================================================================
NCAA: N 1:37.69 3/24/2022 Leon Marchand, Arizona State
SEC: S 1:38.13 2/15/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
SEC Meet: M 1:38.13 2/15/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
POOL: P 1:38.13 2/15/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
1:41.22 A
1:46.52 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Nelson, Baylor Texas A&M-GU 1:41.83 1:41.71 qB
r:+0.61 21.90 46.92 (25.02)
1:16.30 (29.38) 1:41.71 (25.41)
2 Bratanov, Koko Texas A&M-GU 1:44.12 1:42.18 qB
r:+0.64 22.42 48.22 (25.80)
1:17.61 (29.39) 1:42.18 (24.57)
3 Hils, Zach C SR Georgia 1:43.03 1:42.27 qB
r:+0.68 22.04 47.18 (25.14)
1:16.70 (29.52) 1:42.27 (25.57)
4 Patton, Ben H SR Missouri-MV 1:46.17 1:42.51 qB
r:+0.62 22.16 47.55 (25.39)
1:16.79 (29.24) 1:42.51 (25.72)
5 Smith, Julian SO Florida-FL 1:43.47 1:42.64 qB
r:+0.66 21.80 47.67 (25.87)
1:17.44 (29.77) 1:42.64 (25.20)
6 Maas, Derek E SR Alabama-SE 1:44.87 1:43.04 qB
r:+0.66 22.16 47.95 (25.79)
1:17.92 (29.97) 1:43.04 (25.12)
7 Hillis, Dillon 5Y Florida-FL 1:46.68 1:43.23 qB
r:+0.67 22.45 48.57 (26.12)
1:17.36 (28.79) 1:43.23 (25.87)
8 Gonzalez Pinero SO Florida-FL 1:44.05 1:43.53 qB
r:+0.60 22.07 47.79 (25.72)
1:18.21 (30.42) 1:43.53 (25.32)
Women’s 50 freestyle
Maggie MacNeil is out front again, going 21.41 to lead the way in prelims. She’s four tenths clear of runner-up Kalia Antoniou of Alabama. Mona McSharry is third. MacNeil owns the pool record at 21.03, which is level with the SEC Meet and conference record set in 2020 by Erika Brown of Tennessee.
Event 13 Women 50 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
NCAA: N 20.84 3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
SEC: S 21.03 2/19/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
SEC Meet: M 21.03 2/19/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
POOL: P 21.03 11/16/2022Maggie MacNeil, LSU
21.66 A
22.71 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 MacNeil, Maggie GR LSU-LA 21.03 21.41 qA
r:+0.67 10.52 21.41 (10.89)
2 Antoniou, Kalia SR Alabama-SE 21.86 21.85 qB
r:+0.68 10.59 21.85 (11.26)
3 McSharry, Mona JR Tennessee-SE 22.15 21.98 qB
r:+0.65 10.51 21.98 (11.47)
4 Mack, Katie G SR Florida-FL 22.03 22.01 qB
r:+0.64 10.57 22.01 (11.44)
5 Stepanek, Chloe Texas A&M-GU 22.37 22.09 qB
r:+0.67 10.75 22.09 (11.34)
6 Nikonova, Ekate SO Florida-FL 22.40 22.11 qB
r:+0.67 10.72 22.11 (11.39)
7 Sansores, Andre SR Arkansas-AR 22.37 22.18 qB
r:+0.72 10.82 22.18 (11.36)
8 Cronk, Micayla SO Florida-FL 22.68 22.25 qB
r:+0.65 10.95 22.25 (11.30)
Men’s 50 freestyle
Josh Liendo set the pace early, but Jordan Crooks rose to meet it. The reigning champ from Tennessee set his best time of the season by .02 in 18.25. Liendo has previously been 18.83 before his 18.35.
It took 19.09 to make the A final. Maguire McDuff and Adam Chaney earned Florida three spots in it. Reigning NCAA champ Brooks Curry of LSU tied for sixth in 19.08. He’ll be in an outside lane, with Gui Caribe of Tennessee having the faster seed time as the tiebreak.
Event 14 Men 50 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
NCAA: N 17.63 3/22/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
SEC: S 17.63 3/22/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
SEC Meet: M 18.23 2/17/2016 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
POOL: P 18.71 3/26/2009 Nathan Adrian, CAL
18.88 A
19.82 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Crooks, Jordan SO Tennessee-SE 18.27 18.25PqA
r:+0.60 8.70 18.25 (9.55)
2 Liendo, Josh FR Florida-FL 18.83 18.35PqA
r:+0.61 8.90 18.35 (9.45)
3 McDuff, Macguir SO Florida-FL 19.11 18.99 qB
r:+0.63 9.13 18.99 (9.86)
4 Chaney, Adam C SO Florida-FL 19.23 19.04 qB
r:+0.60 9.24 19.04 (9.80)
5 Tirheimer, Loga JR Auburn-SE 19.33 19.05 qB
r:+0.60 9.20 19.05 (9.85)
6 Santos, Guilher Tennessee-SE 18.91 19.08 qB
r:+0.61 9.17 19.08 (9.91)
6 Curry, Brooks V SR LSU-LA 18.94 19.08 qB
r:+0.62 9.13 19.08 (9.95)
8 Downing, Dillon SR Georgia 19.25 19.09 qB
r:+0.62 9.12 19.09 (9.97)
