Olivia Smoliga Shines On Night Four Of SEC Champs

Jul 17, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Olivia Smoliga of the United States competes in the women's swimming 100m backstroke preliminary heats during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images

The Southeastern Conference Championships are coming down to the wire for both the men’s and women’s team point totals. On the men’s side, Florida is leading with 982 points. Auburn is close behind (952), followed by Georgia (802), Missouri (673) and Alabama (667).

Texas A&M holds a slim lead on the women’s side. The Aggies have earned 847.5 points. They are followed by Tennessee (828.5), Georgia (815.5), Missouri (545) and Auburn (538).

After a strong end to Thursday’s finals, Georgia picked up where they left off on Friday evening. In the 200-yard butterfly, the Bulldogs’ Hali Flickinger took first with a time of 1:52.62. Megan Kingsley, her teammate, was third in 1:53.92. Texas A&M’s Sarah Gibson finished second with a time of 1:53.75.

In the men’s event, Auburn’s Hugo Morris earned the gold medal with a time of 1:40.59. Georgia’s Pace Clark finished just behind Morris in 1:40.80. The Bulldogs’ Gunnar Bentz was third in 1:41.56.

Olivia Smoliga of Georgia won her second individual event of the meet in the 100-yard backstroke. The U.S. National team member posted a time of 50.80, a pool record. Tennessee’s Kira Toussaint was second with a time of 51.14 and Danielle Galyer of Kentucky touched third in 51.78.

Alabama’s Connor Oslin dominated in the men’s event. The junior took first place with a time of 45.25. Taylor Dale of Georgia posted a time of 45.58 to finish second and Florida’s Jack Blyzinskyj touched third in 45.66.

Missouri’s Katharine Ross treated the home crowd to a gold medal in the 100-yard breaststroke. She posted a time of 58.38, finishing over a second ahead of Alabama’s Bridget Blood, who posted a time of 59.44. Missouri’s Abby Duncan and Auburn’s Annie Lazor tied for third with a time of 59.68.

The men’s event came down to a touch. Auburn’s Michael Duderstadt took first place with a time of 51.94. Missouri’s Fabian Schwingenschlogl finished in a close second, touching in 52.13. Texas A&M’s Mauro Castilla Luna was third with a time of 52.65.

In men’s platform diving, Tennessee’s Mauricio Robles took first place. He was followed by Kentucky’s Seb Masterson and Scott Lazeroff of Auburn.

The night ended with the men’s and women’s 400-yard medley relays.

Texas A&M claimed the victory on the women’s side, posting a time of 3:30.15. The Aggie team consisted of backstroker Lisa Bratton, breaststroker Jorie Caneta, butterflier Sarah Gibson and freestyler Beryl Gastaldello. Georgia’s team of backstroker Olivia Smoliga, breaststroker Annie Zhu, butterflier Kylie Stewart and freestyler Hali Flickinger came in second with a time of 3:30.83. Missouri’s team of backstroker Nadine Laemmler, breaststroker Katharine Ross, butterflier Anna Patterson and freestyler Hannah Stevens picked up a bronze medal with a time of 3:31.29.

Florida picked up the win in the men’s race. The Gator team of backstroker Jack Blyzinskyj, breaststroker Caeleb Dressel, butterflier Jan Switkowski and freestyler Corey Main posted a time of 3:03.86. Auburn’s team of backstroker Joe Patching, breaststroker Michael Duderstadt, butterflier Arthur Mendes and freestyler Peter Holoda took second in 3:05.44. Alabama’s team of backstroker Connor Oslin, breaststroker Anton McKee, butterflier Luke Kaliszak and freestyler Kristian Gkolomeev touched in 3:06.17 to take third.

Preliminary races begin tomorrow at 10 a.m.

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Bill Bel

8 years ago

Amazing that Flirida would gave a 44.8 100 flyer swim the breaststroke leg of the medley relay but that’s how versatile — and go if — Dressel is.

Bob David

8 years ago

Backstroke. Not breaststroke.