WOMEN’S MEET
The Alabama women were led by Emma Saunders and Mia Nonnenberg in their 191.5-108.5 victory over South Carolina.
Each won two events as the Crimson Tide won nearly every event today. Saunders first took the 200 free (1:50.36) over Nonneberg (1:50.74) as the two led a ‘Bama 1-2-3-4 finish, then she was back to win the 100 free (51.26). Saunders would go on to anchor the Alabama 400 free relay A, which won the race by over 4 seconds.
Nonnenberg, an NCAA qualifier as a freshman last season, took the 200 fly (1:59.61) and the 200 IM (2:02.76) without much opposition from the other swimmers in either race. She didn’t swim in any relays, but was a top scorer for Alabama at this meet.
Also winning two events were Alabama’s Paige Matherson and Katie Kelsoe. Matherson excelled in the distance events, taking both the 1000 and 500 free, while Kelsoe won both backstroke events.
Other notable event wins:
- 100 fly – Hannah Musser (Alabama) The sophomore was the fly leg on Alabama’s A medley relay, and took the 100 fly in an impressive 54.87.
- 50 free – Taylor Vincent (South Carolina) In the closest race of the day, and South Carolina’s only swimming win of the meet, Vincent sprinted to the wall first in 23.98, knocking off ‘Bama’s Lindsay Morrow by a mere hundredth.
MEN’S MEET
The Alabama men didn’t have quite as easy of a time defeating the Gamecocks. Despite getting off to a hot start in the 400 medley, going 1-2 with a 43.69 anchor from Kristian Gkolomeev on the B relay, the South Carolina men flexed their distance free muscles with a 1-2 finish in the 1000 and a win in the 200 free.
Gamecock freshman Cody Bekemeyer blasted a 9:09.51 in the 1000, which would rank him #7 in the country this year (though the USA Swimming rankings have yet to factor in this weekend’s meet results) and was also a new personal best. His previous best of 9:10.01 was done all the way back in March of 2013. South Carolina sophomore Tom Peribonio touched 2nd in 9:16.31, and Akaram Mahmoud followed that up with a close win in the 200. His 1:38.73 just edged out Bama’s Crews Wellford (1:38.91). Later, in the 500 free, Mahmoud would win again (4:25.78) followed by Peribonio (4:29.41).
The Crimson Tide regained control, however, claiming three of the next four events. Connor Oslin had a great day, popping out two 47s in the 100 back, the first on the medley relay (47.43) and then again in the individual 100 back (47.57) en route to a big win. Oslin wasn’t done, however, and would go on to win the 200 back (1:47.26) and 100 fly (48.59). ‘Bama also grabbed the 200 fly with Will Freeman (1:50.06) as well as the 50 free with Gkolomeev (20.19).
Gkolomeev was stellar on the medley, though his individual swims were off of what he’s been this season. He missed his season best of 19.87 in the 50 and was well off of his 100 free best of 44.81, both done against Auburn a few weeks ago. While he still won the 50, he dropped the 100 to South Carolina’s Kevin Leithold. Leithold went 45.40 to Gkolomeev’s 45.59.
South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen swam admirably, taking the 100 breast (54.85) in a Gamecock 1-2 sweep, and then coming back to win the 200 IM (1:50.84). Peribonio grabbed 2nd in that 200 IM. Wich-Glasen had a tough battle with Alabama’s Anton McKee in the 200 breast, leading most of the way through but dropping it at the end by just a hundredth. McKee took the event in 2:00.43 to Wich-Glasen’s 2:00.44.
Alabama wrapped up the meet with another 1-2 finish, this time in the 400 free relay. They ended up on top, 166-132.
He won everything that he swam. He can’t do any more. What else do you want from him? He should have won SEC freshman of the week for both genders.
Hooray