2017 SEC Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2017 SEC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, February 14 – Saturday, February 18
• Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Knoxville, TN (Eastern Time Zone)
• Prelims 10AM / Finals 6PM
• Defending Champion: Florida men (4x), Texas A&M women (results)
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live results
• Live Video

Swimmers are gearing up for day 4 of the 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tonight’s action includes the 200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, 400 medley relay, and women’s platform diving.

On the women’s side, Georgia’s Chelsea Britt and Texas A&M’s Sarah Gibson are slated for a rematch, this time in the 200 fly. Missouri’s Hannah Stevens and Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga are closely matched in the 100 back, but Tennessee All-American Kira Toussaint will also be in the mix.

Georgia’s Chase Kalisz and Florida’s Mark Szaranek will get one final rematch in a loaded 200 fly field that also includes the Gators’ Jan Switkowski and the Bulldogs’ Gunnar Bentz and Pace Clark. Alabama teammates Connor Oslin and Luke Kaliszak will take on Georgia’s Taylor Dale in the 100 back. Auburn’s defending SEC champ Michael Duderstadt will have a showdown with Missouri’s Fabian Schwingenschlogl and Michael Chadwick, South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen, and Tennessee’s Peter Stevens in the 100 breast.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY

• NCAA A Cut: 1:54.01
• NCAA B Cut: 1:59.59

1. Sarah Gibson, Texas A&M, 1:52.64
2. Cheslea Britt, Georgia, 1:52.72
3. Megan Kingsley, Georgia, 1:54.80

The 200 fly showdown between Texas A&M’s Sarah Gibson and Georgia’s Chelsea Britt was even closer than their 100 fly battle. Britt took it out in a quick 53.90, with Gibson trailing in 54.40. On the final 50, Gibson made her move, dropping a 29.19 to finish hundredths ahead of Britt with a winning time of 1:52.64. Both swimmers cleared the NCAA ‘A’ cut. Georgia’s Megan Kingsley rounded out the podium to give the Bulldogs 2 medalists in the event.

LSU’s Kara Kopcso was just one place shy of the podium, turning in a 1:55.66 for 4th place ahead of Missouri’s Sharli Brady (1:56.65).

MEN’S 200 FLY

• NCAA A Cut: 1:41.86
• NCAA B Cut: 1:47.99

1. Pace Clark, Georgia, 1:40.87
2. Jan Switkowski, Florida, 1:40.94
3. Chase Kalisz, Georgia, 1:41.03

Pace Clark, Chase Kalisz, and Jan Switkowski were neck and neck going into the final 50 of the 200 fly. Switkowski hammered home with the fastest split, cling in 26.19, but Clark had just enough of an edge to hold him off to take the title in 1:40.87. Kalisz held on for 3rd to give the Bulldogs 2 on the podium.

Taking 4th was Florida’s Mark Szaranek (1:42.34), followed by Georgia’s Gunnar Bentz (1:43.06) and Kentucky’s Fynn Minuth (1:43.33).

WOMEN’S 100 BACK

• NCAA A Cut: 51.45
• NCAA B Cut: 55.09

1. Olivia Smoliga, Georgia, 50.61
2. Hannah Stevens, Missouri, 50.82
3. Asia Seidt, Kentucky, 51.40

Hannah Stevens held the slight edge through 75 yards, but Olivia Smoliga took off on the last 25 to win on 50.61 ahead of Stevens’ 50.82. Kentucky’s Asia Seidt rounded out the podium with a quick 51.40, as all 3 medalists cleared the NCAA ‘A’ standard.

Tennessee’s Kira Toussaint was just a couple tenths shy of the podium, turning in a 51.69 for 4th place ahead of Missouri’s Nadine Laemmler (51.96).

MEN’S 100 BACK

• NCAA A Cut: 45.37
• NCAA B Cut: 48.49

1. Connor Oslin, Alabama, 44.73
2. Luke Kaliszak, Alabama, 45.03
3. Taylor Dale, Georgia, 45.48

Alabama’s Connor Oslin became the 6th fastest performer in history with his new SEC Record of 44.73 to win the men’s 100 back final. Luke Kaliszak was also under the previous record, touching in 45.03 for 2nd ahead of Georgia’s Taylor Dale (45.48).

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST

• NCAA A Cut: 59.04
• NCAA B Cut: 1:02.49

1. Jorie Caneta, Texa A&M, 59.49
2. Madison Winstead, Kentucky, 59.86
3. Bridget Blood, Alabama, 59.95

The top 3 swimmers in the 100 breast all cleared the 1:00 mark, led by Texas A&M’s Jorie Caneta in 59.49. Kentucky’s Madison Winstead powered to a personal best 59.86 to take bronze, just out-touching Alabama’s Bridget Blood, who finished in 59.95 for bronze.

MEN’S 100 BREAST

• NCAA A Cut: 51.93
• NCAA B Cut: 55.39

1. Michael Duderstadt, Auburn, 51.50
2. Nils Wich-Glasen, South Carolina, 51.79
3. (T-3) Fabian Schwingenschlogl, Missouri, 52.28
4. (T-3) Anton McKee, Alabama, 52.28

Auburn’s Michael Duderstadt successfully defended his SEC title, making it back-to-back in the event in 51.50. Coming in 2nd was South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen (51.79), followed by Missouri’s reigning NCAA champ Fabian Schwingenschlogl (52.28) and Alabama’s Anton McKee (52.28), who tied for the bronze medal.

Missouri’s Michael Chadwick wound up 5th in 52.41 ahead of Tennessee’s Peter Stevens (52.56).

WOMEN’S PLATFORM DIVING

1. Allyson Nied, South Carolina, 325.90
2. Rachel Rubadue, Tennessee, 315.20
3. Alais Kalonji, Texas A&M, 291.25

South Carolina’s Allyson Nied was the top performer in tonight’s platform diving finals, winning with a score of 325.90. Tennessee got a boost in points from diving, with Rachel Rubadue picking up silver and Emily Pelletier finishing 7th. Rounding out the medals was Texas A&M’s Alais Kalonji.

WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY

• NCAA A Cut: 3:33.40
• NCAA B Cut: 3:34.96

1. Texas A&M, 3:29.81
2. Georgia, 3:30.11
3. Tennessee, 3:31.99

Olivia Smoliga got the Bulldogs out to an early lead on the back leg with her 51.04, but the Aggies’ Jorie Caneta (59.40) and Sarah Gibson (51.05) pulled ahead on the breast and fly legs respectively. Georgia’s Chantal Van Landeghem ripped a 47.12 on the freestyle split, but it wasn’t enough to run down Texas A&M’s Beryl Gastaldello (47.40).

MEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY

• NCAA A Cut: 3:07.75
• NCAA B Cut: 3:09.68

1. Florida, 3:04.52
2. Missouri, 3:04.66
3. Auburn, 3:05.34

Florida trailed heading into the freestyle leg, but Caeleb Dressel wasn’t about to let the Gators go down without a fight. When he entered the water, the Gators were in 5th, but he quickly caught up with an 18.91 split on the 1st 50. Missouri’s Michael Chadwick kept it extremely close with a 41.13 split, but Dressel’s 40.43 split was enough to give the Gators the win.

Bama and Auburn battled for 3rd, with Auburn’s Peter Holoda charged to a 41.28 split to earn bronze for the Tigers, while Bama finished 4th in 3:05.45.

WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 4

 1. Texas A&M University              961   2. Georgia, University of            843
  3. Tennessee, University of, Knox    673   4. Kentucky, University of           659
  5. Auburn University                 648   6. Missouri, University of           631
  7. Florida, University of            493   8. Louisiana State University        448
  9. South Carolina, University of,    391  10. Alabama, University of            342
 11. Arkansas, University of, Fayet    215  12. Vanderbilt University              74

MEN’S TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 4

 1. Florida, University of          929.5   2. Georgia, University of            788
  3. Auburn University               663.5   4. Alabama, University of            614
  5. Texas A&M University              549   6. Tennessee, University of, Knox  526.5
  7. Missouri, University of           521   8. South Carolina, University of,    505
  9. Louisiana State University        482  10. Kentucky, University of         321.5