2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships: Day Two Finals Live: Smith Breaks American Record, Brown Moves to Second All-Time

Erika Brown moved to second all-time in the 50 freestyle on Wednesday night at SECs. Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

SEC Swimming and Diving Championships

Auburn, Alabama 2020

The Wednesday night finals session of the 2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships had the finals of the 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, and men’s 1m diving.

An NCAA record fell on night two to Florida’s Kieran Smith in the 500 freestyle as he lowered it by two seconds and was also one second under the American record as well.

Tennessee’s Erika Brown won the 50 freestyle to move to second all-time, and Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas broke 1:40 for the first time in winning the 200 IM final.

Georgia’s Courtney Harnish, Tennessee’s Meghan Small and Alabama’s Zane Waddell also won individual events on Wednesday night in Auburn, Alabama.

SEC Swimming and Diving Championships Details

Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 15                  
 
  1. Texas A&M University              438   
  2. University of Florida             395
  3. University of Alabama             361   
  4. Kentucky, University of           340
  5. Georgia, University of          339.5   
  6. Tennessee, University of, Knox  328.5
  7. Auburn University                 301   
  8. Missouri                          276
  9. South Carolina, University of,    238  
 10. Louisiana State University        223

Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 13                 
 
  1. Tennessee, University of, Knox    385   
  2. University of Florida             356.5
  3. Auburn University                 352   
  4. Kentucky, University of           321
  5. Georgia, University of            310   
  6. Texas A&M University              300
  7. University of Alabama             243.5   
  8. Missouri                          212
  9. University of Arkansas            200  
 10. South Carolina, University of,    168
 11. Louisiana State University        160  
 12. Vanderbilt University              90

Women’s 200 Free Relay

Using a tremendous second leg from senior Claire Fisch, Auburn won the women’s 200 free relay to open up the second night of the 2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in their home pool. Fisch split a 20.99 as she paved the way for freshman AJ Kutsch (21.15) and senior Robyn Clevenger (21.62) on the back half to give the Tigers the 1:25.41 victory and a new SEC meet record. Senior Julie Meynen (21.65) led off the Tigers’ relay.

Tennessee got off to a quick start with Erika Brown leading off in 21.15, not far off the NCAA record of 20.8 set earlier this season. Brown gave way to Stanzi Moseley (22.14), Meghan Small (21.46) and Bailey Grinter (21.40) as the Vols finished in second at 1:26.15, under their SEC meet record from last year.

Missouri’s team of Megan Keil (22.090, Haley Hynes (22.07), Amy Feddersen (22.23) and Sarah Thompson (21.31) finished third at 1:27.70.

The quickest splits outside the top three came from Arkansas’ Anna Hopkin (20.27), Alabama’s Morgan Scott (21.50), Georgia’s Veronica Burchill (21.71) and Florida’s Sherridon Dressel (21.75).

Arkansas (1:27.93), Alabama (1:27.98), Florida (1:28.13), Georgia (1:28.28) and South Carolina (1:28.44) also placed in the top eight.

Hopkin’s split was the fastest all-time.

 Event 7  Women 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:24.55  3/21/2019 California
                          M. Murphy, K. McLaughlin. A. Bilquist, A. Weitzeil
     SEC Meet: S 1:26.51  2/20/2019 Tennessee
                          M. Banic, S. Moseley, B. Grinter, E. Brown
         Pool: P 1:26.85  3/15/2012 Stanford
                          Woodward, Schaefer, Murez, Webb
                 1:28.43  A
                 1:29.21  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Auburn                        1:28.09    1:25.41SA       64  
     1) Meynen, Julie SR              2) r:0.18 Fisch, Claire SR      
     3) r:0.12 Kutsch, AJ FR          4) r:0.19 Clevenger, Robyn SR   
    r:+0.61  10.55        21.65 (21.65)
           31.53 (9.88)       42.64 (20.99)
           52.51 (9.87)     1:03.79 (21.15)
        1:13.91 (10.12)     1:25.41 (21.62)
  2 Tennessee                     1:27.20    1:26.15SA       56  
     1) Brown, Erika J SR             2) r:0.38 Moseley, Stanzi SR    
     3) r:0.22 Small, Meghan SR       4) r:0.36 Grinter, Bailey JR    
    r:+0.66  10.24        21.15 (21.15)
          31.67 (10.52)       43.29 (22.14)
          53.52 (10.23)     1:04.75 (21.46)
        1:14.85 (10.10)     1:26.15 (21.40)
  3 Missouri                      1:27.39    1:27.70 A       54  
     1) Keil, Megan K SO              2) r:0.40 Hynes, Haley SR       
     3) r:0.30 Feddersen, Amy FR      4) r:0.13 Thompson, Sarah JR    
    r:+0.61  10.64        22.09 (22.09)
          32.64 (10.55)       44.16 (22.07)
          54.63 (10.47)     1:06.39 (22.23)
         1:16.34 (9.95)     1:27.70 (21.31)
  4 Arkansas                      1:28.39    1:27.93 A       52  
     1) Melton, Kobie M SO            2) r:-0.05 Hopkin, Anna SR      
     3) r:0.43 Moore, Molly SO        4) r:0.32 Sansores DeLa Fdrea SO
    r:+0.63  10.96        23.03 (23.03)
           32.45 (9.42)       43.30 (20.27)
          54.07 (10.77)     1:05.74 (22.44)
        1:16.39 (10.65)     1:27.93 (22.19)
  5 Alabama                       1:28.56    1:27.98 A       50  
     1) Antoniou, Kalia SO            2) r:0.06 Scott, Morgan SO      
     3) r:0.32 Molnar, Flora JR       4) r:0.15 Wolf, Julia SO        
    r:+0.69  10.77        22.16 (22.16)
          32.21 (10.05)       43.66 (21.50)
          54.19 (10.53)     1:05.86 (22.20)
        1:16.35 (10.49)     1:27.98 (22.12)
  6 FLOR                          1:28.36    1:28.13 A       48  
     1) Garofalo, Isabella D SR       2) r:0.26 Dressel, Sherridon SR 
     3) r:0.15 Hillis, Gabrielle JR   4) r:0.05 Bates, Talia FR       
    r:+0.61  10.77        22.27 (22.27)
          32.58 (10.31)       44.02 (21.75)
          54.61 (10.59)     1:06.24 (22.22)
        1:16.35 (10.11)     1:28.13 (21.89)
  7 Georgia                       1:29.95    1:28.28 A       46  
     1) Fa'amausili, Gabi A JR        2) r:0.51 Hartman, Zoie FR      
     3) r:0.33 DellaTorre, Danelle JR 4) r:0.26 Burchill, Veronica SR 
    r:+0.67  10.67        21.97 (21.97)
          32.66 (10.69)       44.17 (22.20)
          54.71 (10.54)     1:06.57 (22.40)
        1:16.89 (10.32)     1:28.28 (21.71)
  8 South Carolina                1:31.56    1:28.44 B       44  
     1) Lappin, Christina M SR        2) r:0.41 Walker, Emma SO       
     3) r:0.19 Smith, Janie FR        4) r:0.27 Doennebrink, Daelle JR
    r:+0.69  10.69        22.32 (22.32)
          32.81 (10.49)       44.40 (22.08)
          54.62 (10.22)     1:06.28 (21.88)
        1:16.75 (10.47)     1:28.44 (22.16)

Men’s 200 Free Relay

A day after losing the 200 medley relay to a botched last turn, the Alabama Crimson Tide turned the tables in the 200 free relay by taking the win at 1:16.00. The team of Tyler Sesvold (19.33), Zane Waddell (18.60), Jonathan Berneburg (19.09) and Sam DiSette (18.98) won the title ahead of Florida (1:16.33) and Texas A&M (1:16.57).

Alabama doesn’t have the depth to compete for the team title but they have the sprint relays that will keep them near the top.

Florida’s team of Eric Friese (19.60), Kieran Smith (18.98), Will Davis (18.66) and Isaac Davis (19.09) finished in second and nearly stole the relay from lane seven. The Aggies from A&M finished third with Adam Koster (19.23), Mike Thibert (19.30), Mark Theall (18.85) and Clayton Bobo (19.19).

South Carolina (1:17.20), Tennessee (1:17.37), LSU (1:17.50), Kentucky (1:17.62) and Missouri (1:17.66) also placed in the top eight.

The quickest splits outside the top three teams came from Tennessee’s Scott Scanlon (19.14), LSU’s Karl Luht (19.20), Kentucky’s John Mitchell (19.22) and South Carolina’s Dylan Delaney and Kentucky’s Jason Head (19.26).

 Event 8  Men 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:14.08  3/26/2009 Auburn
                          J. Andkjaer, G. Louw, K. Norys, M.Targett
     SEC Meet: S 1:15.43  2/20/2019 Alabama
                          Z. Waddell, S. DiSette, J. Blake, R. Howard
         Pool: P 1:15.47  2/19/2009 Auburn
                          Andkjaer, Targett, Norys, Louw
                 1:17.17  A
                 1:17.86  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Alabama                       1:18.33    1:16.00 A       64  
     1) Sesvold, Tyler E JR           2) r:0.10 Waddell, Zane SR      
     3) r:0.17 Berneburg, Jonathan SO 4) r:0.24 DiSette, Sam JR       
     r:+0.63  9.25        19.33 (19.33)
           28.14 (8.81)       37.93 (18.60)
           47.01 (9.08)       57.02 (19.09)
         1:05.89 (8.87)     1:16.00 (18.98)
  2 FLOR                          1:18.70    1:16.33 A       56  
     1) Friese, Eric E FR             2) r:0.21 Smith, Kieran SO      
     3) r:0.15 Davis, Will SO         4) r:0.11 Davis, Isaac SO       
     r:+0.68  9.34        19.60 (19.60)
           28.61 (9.01)       38.58 (18.98)
           47.24 (8.66)       57.24 (18.66)
         1:06.12 (8.88)     1:16.33 (19.09)
  3 Texas A&M                     1:17.21    1:16.57 A       54  
     1) Koster, Adam R SR             2) r:0.22 Thibert, Mike SR      
     3) r:0.16 Theall, Mark JR        4) r:0.13 Bobo, Clayton SO      
     r:+0.59  9.16        19.23 (19.23)
           28.22 (8.99)       38.53 (19.30)
           47.35 (8.82)       57.38 (18.85)
         1:06.31 (8.93)     1:16.57 (19.19)
  4 South Carolina                1:19.04    1:17.20 B       52  
     1) Burras, Lewis E SO            2) r:0.36 Ross, AJ JR           
     3) r:0.36 Gropper, Guy FR        4) r:0.24 Delaney, Dylan SO     
     r:+0.64  9.36        19.28 (19.28)
           28.41 (9.13)       38.58 (19.30)
           47.69 (9.11)       57.94 (19.36)
         1:06.97 (9.03)     1:17.20 (19.26)
  5 Tennessee                     1:18.48    1:17.37 B       50  
     1) Connolly, Alec M SR           2) r:0.26 Verhage, Braga SR     
     3) r:0.10 Scanlon, Scott FR      4) r:0.36 Briggs, Nolan SO      
     r:+0.66  9.43        19.62 (19.62)
           28.63 (9.01)       38.90 (19.28)
           47.86 (8.96)       58.04 (19.14)
         1:07.26 (9.22)     1:17.37 (19.33)
  6 LSU                           1:18.46    1:17.50 B       48  
     1) Curry, Brooks V FR            2) r:0.05 Klotz, Matthew SR     
     3) r:0.10 Luht, Karl SR          4) r:0.21 Clough, Lewis SR      
     r:+0.59  9.25        19.30 (19.30)
           28.34 (9.04)       38.65 (19.35)
           47.63 (8.98)       57.85 (19.20)
         1:07.04 (9.19)     1:17.50 (19.65)
  7 Kentucky                      1:19.28    1:17.62 B       46  
     1) Wetzlar, Peter C SR           2) r:0.30 Mitchell, John SR     
     3) r:0.29 Head, Jason SR         4) r:0.30 Brown, Glen SR        
     r:+0.60  9.29        19.43 (19.43)
           28.54 (9.11)       38.65 (19.22)
           47.68 (9.03)       57.91 (19.26)
         1:07.23 (9.32)     1:17.62 (19.71)
  8 Missouri                      1:18.14    1:17.66 B       44  
     1) Kovac, Danny D SO             2) r:0.09 Hein, Daniel SR       
     3) r:0.12 Leach, Kyle SO         4) r:0.18 Dahlgren, Jack SO     
     r:+0.59  9.34        19.59 (19.59)
           28.62 (9.03)       38.91 (19.32)
           47.94 (9.03)       58.37 (19.46)
         1:07.47 (9.10)     1:17.66 (19.29)

Women’s 500 Free

Leading from start to finish, Georgia junior Courtney Harnish successfully defended her SEC title in the 500 with a 4:36.40 to win from lane 2. She finished ahead of Kentucky’s Ali Galyer (4:38.40), who swam on the outside in lane 1.

The race was dominated by the outside lanes as Alabama sophomore Kensey McMahon broke 4:40 for the first time from lane 7 at 4:38.66 to finish third.

Arkansas’ Peyton Palsha (4:39.41) finished in fourth place thanks to a great last 50. Tennessee’s Amanda Nunan (4:39.42), Auburn’s Emily Hetzer (4:39.80), Texas A&M’s Karling Hemstreet (4:41.25) and Alabama’s Alexis Preski (4:41.30) also swam in the championship final.

 Event 9  Women 500 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 4:24.08  3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
     SEC Meet: S 4:33.10  2/17/2016 Brittany MacLean, Georgia
         Pool: P 4:34.48  3/15/2012 Haley Anderson, Southern California
                 4:35.76  A
                 4:47.20  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Harnish, Courtn  JR Georgia           4:40.08    4:36.40 B       32  
    r:+0.76  25.60        53.25 (27.65)
        1:21.10 (27.85)     1:49.08 (27.98)
        2:17.21 (28.13)     2:45.55 (28.34)
        3:13.88 (28.33)     3:41.73 (27.85)
        4:09.52 (27.79)     4:36.40 (26.88)
  2 Galyer, Ali J    SR Kentucky          4:41.14    4:38.40 B       28  
    r:+0.68  25.28        53.02 (27.74)
        1:21.21 (28.19)     1:49.46 (28.25)
        2:17.78 (28.32)     2:46.20 (28.42)
        3:14.41 (28.21)     3:42.62 (28.21)
        4:10.64 (28.02)     4:38.40 (27.76)
  3 McMahon, Kensey  SO Alabama           4:40.20    4:38.66 B       27  
    r:+0.74  26.13        53.65 (27.52)
        1:21.30 (27.65)     1:49.15 (27.85)
        2:17.29 (28.14)     2:45.52 (28.23)
        3:13.96 (28.44)     3:42.51 (28.55)
        4:11.03 (28.52)     4:38.66 (27.63)
  4 Palsha, Peyton   JR Arkansas          4:40.01    4:39.41 B       26  
    r:+0.69  25.93        53.79 (27.86)
        1:21.91 (28.12)     1:50.27 (28.36)
        2:18.68 (28.41)     2:47.05 (28.37)
        3:15.51 (28.46)     3:44.02 (28.51)
        4:11.95 (27.93)     4:39.41 (27.46)
  5 Nunan, Amanda J  JR Tennessee         4:38.90    4:39.42 B       25  
    r:+0.79  26.12        53.71 (27.59)
        1:21.77 (28.06)     1:49.86 (28.09)
        2:18.17 (28.31)     2:46.60 (28.43)
        3:15.04 (28.44)     3:43.49 (28.45)
        4:11.76 (28.27)     4:39.42 (27.66)
  6 Hetzer, Emily    SO Auburn            4:38.56    4:39.80 B       24  
    r:+0.78  25.74        53.58 (27.84)
        1:21.76 (28.18)     1:49.81 (28.05)
        2:17.81 (28.00)     2:46.05 (28.24)
        3:14.44 (28.39)     3:42.79 (28.35)
        4:11.56 (28.77)     4:39.80 (28.24)
  7 Hemstreet, Karl  SR Texas A&M         4:41.16    4:41.25 B       23  
    r:+0.67  25.76        54.30 (28.54)
        1:22.64 (28.34)     1:51.11 (28.47)
        2:19.76 (28.65)     2:48.28 (28.52)
        3:16.78 (28.50)     3:45.12 (28.34)
        4:13.42 (28.30)     4:41.25 (27.83)
  8 Preski, Alexis   SR Alabama           4:39.94    4:41.30 B       22  
    r:+0.71  25.91        53.83 (27.92)
        1:22.07 (28.24)     1:50.29 (28.22)
        2:18.44 (28.15)     2:46.75 (28.31)
        3:15.22 (28.47)     3:43.86 (28.64)
        4:12.79 (28.93)     4:41.30 (28.51)

Men’s 500 Free

Nearly 24 hours after nearly breaking 1:30 in the 200 freestyle, Florida sophomore Kieran Smith absolutely demolished the record books in the 500 freestyle, scorching a 4:06.32. The time lowered the NCAA record set last season by Townley Haas of Texas (4:08.19) and also took down Zane Grothe’s American record of 4:07.25 set in December 2017.

Smith finished ahead of Texas A&M junior Mark Theall (4:10.77) and Florida teammate Bobby Finke (4:10.86).

Kieran Smith led from start to finish and used an incredible last three 50’s to get under the American record. His win marks the first for Florida in the 500 at SECs since Pawel Werner in 2016.

This was the second record set on Wednesday night at the 2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn as Arkansas’ Anna Hopkin swam the fastest 50 freestyle relay split earlier in the night in the 200 freestyle relay.

Georgia’s Walker Higgins (4:13.98), Florida’s Khader Baqlah (4:15.86), Georgia’s Andrew Abruzzo (4:17.04), Georgia’s Greg Reed (4:18.88) and Alabama’s Nico Hernandez-Tome (4:19.47) also competed in the championship final.

Former record holder Zane Grothe has already reacted to the news of his record getting broken.

That was awesome

— Zane Grothe (@zane_growth_ee) February 20, 2020

 Event 10  Men 500 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 4:08.19  3/28/2019 Townley Haas, Texas
     SEC Meet: S 4:10.51  2/15/2018 Fynn Minuth, South Carolina
         Pool: P 4:10.77  2/18/2015 Mitch D'Arrigo, Florida
                 4:11.82  A
                 4:23.34  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Smith, Kieran S  SO FLOR              4:14.55    4:06.32NA       32  
    r:+0.68  22.45        47.28 (24.83)
        1:12.07 (24.79)     1:37.08 (25.01)
        2:02.25 (25.17)     2:27.35 (25.10)
        2:52.40 (25.05)     3:17.25 (24.85)
        3:42.19 (24.94)     4:06.32 (24.13)
  2 Theall, Mark J   JR Texas A&M         4:13.98    4:10.77PA       28  
    r:+0.66  22.68        47.21 (24.53)
        1:12.30 (25.09)     1:37.63 (25.33)
        2:03.16 (25.53)     2:28.93 (25.77)
        2:54.72 (25.79)     3:20.25 (25.53)
        3:45.76 (25.51)     4:10.77 (25.01)
  3 Finke, Bobby C   SO FLOR              4:13.74    4:10.86 A       27  
    r:+0.72  22.88        47.74 (24.86)
        1:12.95 (25.21)     1:38.28 (25.33)
        2:03.79 (25.51)     2:29.31 (25.52)
        2:54.98 (25.67)     3:20.61 (25.63)
        3:46.36 (25.75)     4:10.86 (24.50)
  4 Higgins, Walker  SR Georgia           4:13.66    4:13.98 B       26  
    r:+0.67  22.37        47.10 (24.73)
        1:12.54 (25.44)     1:38.19 (25.65)
        2:04.04 (25.85)     2:29.86 (25.82)
        2:55.88 (26.02)     3:22.05 (26.17)
        3:48.26 (26.21)     4:13.98 (25.72)
  5 Baqlah, Khader   SR FLOR              4:15.56    4:15.86 B       25  
    r:+0.70  23.00        48.05 (25.05)
        1:13.30 (25.25)     1:38.72 (25.42)
        2:04.75 (26.03)     2:30.32 (25.57)
        2:56.36 (26.04)     3:23.07 (26.71)
        3:49.72 (26.65)     4:15.86 (26.14)
  6 Abruzzo, Andrew  SO Georgia           4:15.03    4:17.04 B       24  
    r:+0.76  23.32        48.62 (25.30)
        1:14.49 (25.87)     1:40.52 (26.03)
        2:06.84 (26.32)     2:33.16 (26.32)
        2:59.64 (26.48)     3:25.74 (26.10)
        3:51.91 (26.17)     4:17.04 (25.13)
  7 Reed, Greg C     JR Georgia           4:16.79    4:18.88 B       23  
    r:+0.66  23.42        49.13 (25.71)
        1:15.08 (25.95)     1:41.40 (26.32)
        2:07.77 (26.37)     2:34.43 (26.66)
        3:00.77 (26.34)     3:27.25 (26.48)
        3:53.32 (26.07)     4:18.88 (25.56)
  8 Hernandez-Tome,  SO Alabama           4:17.64    4:19.47 B       22  
    r:+0.67  23.41        48.90 (25.49)
        1:14.87 (25.97)     1:41.09 (26.22)
        2:07.56 (26.47)     2:33.80 (26.24)
        3:00.33 (26.53)     3:27.24 (26.91)
        3:53.72 (26.48)     4:19.47 (25.75)

Women’s 200 IM

Tennessee senior Meghan Small won her third SEC title in four years in the 200 IM on Wednesday night at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn as she swam a 1:52.14. Small won as a freshman in 2017 and as a junior in 2019. She held off freshman Zoie Hartman (1:53.05) of Georgia, who looked to pull the upset in her first year at SECs.

Kentucky senior Asia Seidt was the leader at the halfway point and she wound up third with a 1:53.70. Tennessee’s Tess Cieplucha (1:53.89) finished in fourth ahead of Texas A&M’s Jing Quah (1:56.49) and Georgia’s Danielle Della Torre (1:56.55).

Kentucky’s Bailey Bonnett (1:57.46) and Texas A&M’s Caroline Theil (1:57.51) also placed in the championship final.

 Event 11  Women 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:50.67  3/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
     SEC Meet: S 1:51.62  2/20/2019 Meghan Small, Tennessee
         Pool: P 1:51.77  3/15/2012 Caitlin Leverenz, California
                 1:53.66  A
                 1:59.94  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Small, Meghan N  SR Tennessee         1:54.43    1:52.14 A       32  
    r:+0.69  24.43        52.39 (27.96)
        1:24.98 (32.59)     1:52.14 (27.16)
  2 Hartman, Zoie E  FR Georgia           1:54.22    1:53.05 A       28  
    r:+0.79  25.20        43.27 (18.07)
        1:25.84 (42.57)     1:53.05 (27.21)
  3 Seidt, Asia M    SR Kentucky          1:54.43    1:53.70 B       27  
    r:+0.68  24.37        52.53 (28.16)
        1:26.30 (33.77)     1:53.70 (27.40)
  4 Cieplucha, Tess  SR Tennessee         1:55.32    1:53.89 B       26  
    r:+0.73  24.88        53.76 (28.88)
        1:26.76 (33.00)     1:53.89 (27.13)
  5 Quah, Jing       JR Texas A&M         1:56.17    1:56.49 B       25  
    r:+0.60  24.91        54.00 (29.09)
        1:28.51 (34.51)     1:56.49 (27.98)
  6 DellaTorre, Dan  JR Georgia           1:56.24    1:56.55 B       24  
    r:+0.66  25.62        56.58 (30.96)
        1:28.68 (32.10)     1:56.55 (27.87)
  7 Bonnett, Bailey  JR Kentucky          1:56.68    1:57.46 B       23  
    r:+0.68  25.54        55.43 (29.89)
        1:28.68 (33.25)     1:57.46 (28.78)
  8 Theil, Caroline  SO Texas A&M         1:56.67    1:57.51 B       22  
    r:+0.79  25.48        56.06 (30.58)
        1:29.43 (33.37)     1:57.51 (28.08)

Men’s 200 IM

Texas A&M sophomore Shaine Casas nearly kept the record breaking streak going on Wednesday night at the 2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn, Alabama as he torched the front half of the 200 IM final. Casas was a 45.91 through 100 yards of the 200 IM and was under Caeleb Dressel’s American record pace, but fell off on the breaststroke leg.

Nonetheless, Casas swam a 1:39.91 to break 100 seconds for the first time in his life.

He was well in front of the rest of the field as Missouri senior Nick Alexander (1:42.49) finished in second and his teammate Danny Kovac (1:43.24) was third.

Seniors Glen Brown of Kentucky (1:43.47) and Grant Sanders of Florida (1:44.01) finished in fourth and fifth.

Alabama’s Nicholas Perera (1:44.60), Derek Maas (1:45.53) and Florida’s Dillon Hillis (1:46.51) also swam in the championship final.

 Event 12  Men 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:38.13  2/15/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
     SEC Meet: S 1:38.13  2/15/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
         Pool: P 1:41.96  2/19/2009 Bradley Ally, Florida
                 1:41.34  A
                 1:46.77  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Casas, Shaine M  SO Texas A&M         1:40.51    1:39.91PA       32  
    r:+0.61  21.05        45.91 (24.86)
        1:14.94 (29.03)     1:39.91 (24.97)
  2 Alexander, Nick  SR Missouri          1:42.81    1:42.49 B       28  
    r:+0.60  22.44        47.79 (25.35)
        1:17.66 (29.87)     1:42.49 (24.83)
  3 Kovac, Danny D   SO Missouri          1:43.58    1:43.24 B       27  
    r:+0.61  21.78        48.44 (26.66)
        1:18.03 (29.59)     1:43.24 (25.21)
  4 Brown, Glen T    SR Kentucky          1:43.98    1:43.47 B       26  
    r:+0.63  22.43        48.23 (25.80)
        1:18.07 (29.84)     1:43.47 (25.40)
  5 Sanders, Grant   SR FLOR              1:43.38    1:44.01 B       25  
    r:+0.67  22.27        48.46 (26.19)
        1:18.32 (29.86)     1:44.01 (25.69)
  6 Perera, Nichola  SO Alabama           1:44.88    1:44.60 B       24  
    r:+0.61  22.92        49.34 (26.42)
        1:19.36 (30.02)     1:44.60 (25.24)
  7 Maas, Derek E    FR Alabama           1:44.95    1:45.53 B       23  
    r:+0.69  23.01        49.91 (26.90)
        1:19.66 (29.75)     1:45.53 (25.87)
  8 Hillis, Dillon   SO FLOR              1:44.29    1:46.51 B       22  
    r:+0.63  22.29        49.27 (26.98)
        1:19.80 (30.53)     1:46.51 (26.71)

Women’s 50 Free

In a heavily-hyped matchup between the second and third fastest women in history, Tennessee senior Erika Brown came out on top in the 50 freestyle final with a 21.03. The time broke her own SEC meet record that she set in leading off the 200 free relay (21.15) and also put her second all-time behind Abbey Weitzeil (20.90). Brown beat Arkansas senior Anna Hopkin, who earlier in the night swam the fastest relay split in history at 20.2, as the Brit was second at 21.44.

This was Brown’s third straight SEC title in the event.

The four seniors in the field swept the top four spots with Auburn’s Julie Meynen (21.54) and Claire Fisch (21.60) finishing in third and fourth. They were on the winning 200 freestyle relay earlier in the night.

Missouri’s Sarah Thompson (21.80), Georgia’s Gabi Fa’amausili (22.10), Auburn’s AJ Kutsch (22.20) and Tennessee’s Bailey Grinter (22.23) also placed in the championship final.

 Event 13  Women 50 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
     SEC Meet: S 21.15  2/19/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
         Pool: P 21.15  2/19/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
                 21.66  A
                 22.76  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Brown, Erika J   SR Tennessee           21.19      21.03SA       32  
    r:+0.64  10.19        21.03 (10.84)
  2 Hopkin, Anna E   SR Arkansas            21.54      21.44 A       28  
    r:+0.66  10.35        21.44 (11.09)
  3 Meynen, Julie    SR Auburn              21.68      21.54 A       27  
    r:+0.61  10.43        21.54 (11.11)
  4 Fisch, Claire A  SR Auburn              21.71      21.60 A       26  
    r:+0.67  10.27        21.60 (11.33)
  5 Thompson, Sarah  JR Missouri            21.77      21.80 B       25  
    r:+0.60  10.36        21.80 (11.44)
  6 Fa'amausili, Ga  JR Georgia             22.11      22.10 B       24  
    r:+0.64  10.62        22.10 (11.48)
  7 Kutsch, AJ       FR Auburn              22.09      22.20 B       23  
    r:+0.70  10.77        22.20 (11.43)
  8 Grinter, Bailey  JR Tennessee           22.15      22.23 B       22  
    r:+0.72  10.89        22.23 (11.34)

Men’s 50 Free

Alabama senior Zane Waddell put up the nation’s second fastest time in the 50 freestyle in winning the SEC title for Alabama at 19.07, nearly breaking 19 seconds. It is the second straight SEC title for Alabama in the 50 freestyle after Robert Howard won it last year. Waddell was joined by Tide teammate Tyler Sesvold, who finished in seventh at 19.44.

Texas A&M has been on a mission tonight, finishing either first or second in every men’s individual event on this Wednesday night. Adam Koster finished as the runner-up with a 19.12.

Outside smokes Lewis Burras of South Carolina (19.17) and Peter Wetzlar of Kentucky (19.27) finished in third and fourth from lanes 8 and 1 respectively.

Auburn’s Santiago Grassi (19.33), LSU’s Brooks Curry (19.39) and Georgia’s Dillon Downing (19.50) also swam in the championship final.

 Event 14  Men 50 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 17.63  3/22/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
     SEC Meet: S 18.23  2/17/2016 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
         Pool: P 18.52  2/19/2009 Matt Targett, Auburn
                 18.96  A
                 19.96  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Waddell, Zane    SR Alabama             19.16      19.07 B       32  
     r:+0.67  9.14         19.07 (9.93)
  2 Koster, Adam R   SR Texas A&M           19.38      19.12 B       28  
     r:+0.60  9.11        19.12 (10.01)
  3 Burras, Lewis E  SO South Carolina      19.45      19.17 B       27  
     r:+0.65  9.34         19.17 (9.83)
  4 Wetzlar, Peter   SR Kentucky            19.43      19.27 B       26  
     r:+0.60  9.24        19.27 (10.03)
  5 Grassi, Santiag  SR Auburn              19.27      19.33 B       25  
     r:+0.59  9.29        19.33 (10.04)
  6 Curry, Brooks V  FR LSU                 19.41      19.39 B       24  
     r:+0.61  9.37        19.39 (10.02)
  7 Sesvold, Tyler   JR Alabama             19.31      19.44 B       23  
     r:+0.66  9.27        19.44 (10.17)
  8 Downing, Dillon  FR Georgia             19.32      19.50 B       22  
     r:+0.65  9.48        19.50 (10.02)

Men’s 1m Diving

 Event 15  Men 1 mtr Diving
=========================================================================
     SEC Meet: S 479.10  2/15/2018 Juan Celaya Hernandez, LSU
                 300.00  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Mathews, Kurtis  JR Texas A&M          400.30     436.50 B       32  
  2 Pruitt, Conner   SO Auburn             334.50     376.60 B       28  
  3 Hallam, William  JR Tennessee          311.90     374.35 B       27  
  4 Zhang, Mingli    SO Kentucky           373.00     358.45 B       26  
  5 Down-Jenkins, A  SO South Carolina     355.95     338.55 B       25  
  6 Lane, Chase G    JR Kentucky           334.80     333.70 B       24  
  7 Andrews, Logan   JR Auburn             310.65     331.75 B       23  
  8 Povzner, Victor  FR Texas A&M          352.55     328.10 B       22

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Myra Creighton

4 years ago

Malinda Sharp 2 UT winners

Malinda Sharp

4 years ago

Myra Creighton, thx for this up-date, which I’d not yet seen!!!! I shared this “scoop!!”