2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships Day Four Heats: Casas Ties Meet Record in 100 Back

Shaine Casas is the top seed in the 100 backstroke. Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

SEC Swimming and Diving Championships

Auburn, Alabama 2020

The fourth and penultimate morning of the 2020 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships had the heats of the 200 fly, 100 breast and 100 backstroke on Friday morning from the campus of Auburn University. The Florida men and Tennessee women are leading the team race through 3 days.

Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas tied the meet record in the 100 backstroke as he swam a 44.73. He should be quicker tonight and may break the 44 second barrier.

Georgia had a very good morning with three swimmers sitting atop the heats with Dakota Luther (200 fly), Harry Homans (200 fly) and Zoie Hartman (100 breast) leading the way. Both Homans and Hartman are freshmen for the Bulldogs and provided a much needed spark for the team.

Tennessee’s Michael Houlie and Alabama’s Rhyan White also lead the preliminary events.

The full ups, mids, downs report is below. Georgia and Texas A&M each had 4 A-Finalists on the women’s side to lead the way while Florida, Alabama and Tennessee led the way with 4 men’s A-Finalists. The teams are in order of the standings after last night.

Details

Women - Ups, Mids, Downs - Standings Through Event 22                 
 
  1. Tennessee, University of, Knox    3, 3, 2   
  2. University of Florida             2, 1, 3
  3. Kentucky, University of           3, 3, 2   
  4. Texas A&M University              4, 6, 2
  5. Auburn University                 0, 2, 3   
  6. Georgia, University of            4, 3, 3
  7. University of Alabama             3, 3, 0   
  8. University of Arkansas            0, 1, 0
  9. Missouri                          1, 2, 1
 10. Louisiana State                   1, 0, 5  
 11. South Carolina, University of,    3, 0, 3  
 12. Vanderbilt University             0, 0, 0

Men - Ups, Mids Downs - Standings Through Event 21                  
 
  1. University of Florida             4, 1, 2   
  2. Texas A&M University              3, 3, 1
  3. Georgia, University of            2, 4, 1   
  4. University of Alabama             4, 1, 3
  5. Tennessee, University of, Knox    4, 2, 4   
  6. Kentucky, University of           1, 2, 1
  7. Missouri                          2, 6, 3   
  8. Auburn University                 2, 1, 3
  9. South Carolina, University of,    1, 2, 3  
 10. Louisiana State University        1, 2, 3

Women’s 200 Fly

Georgia sophomore Dakota Luther cruised to the top seed in the 200 butterfly with a 1:53.52 as she is ahead of fellow sophomore Izzy Gati (1:53.98) of Kentucky. Georgia really showed its strengths in the 200 butterfly as junior Courtney Harnish (1:54.92) also advanced to the championship final as the sixth seed. Georgia for many years was known as a strong distance squad but that had been lacking in the last few years. With Harnish’s win in the 500 and Veronica Burchill’s win in the 200 free, the Bulldogs are starting to get their distance swagger back.

Tennessee’s Tess Cieplucha, the winner of last night’s 400 IM, is seeded third at 1:54.69 ahead of South Carolina sophomore Hallie Kinsey (1:54.80).

Texas A&M junior Jing Quah, who won this event in 2018, is seeded fifth at 1:54.84 and could factor into the medals tonight as Texas A&M had a very strong morning with four women’s A-Finalists advancing.

Texas A&M’s Taylor Pike (1:55.81) and Alabama’s Alexis Preski (1:56.22) also advanced to the championship final.

 Event 23  Women 200 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:49.51  2/24/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
     SEC Meet: S 1:52.19  2/21/2014 Cammile Adams, Texas A&M
         Pool: P 1:51.32  3/17/2012 Katinka Hosszu, Southern Cal
                 1:53.20  A
                 1:59.23  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Luther, Dakota   SO Georgia           1:53.22    1:53.52 qB     
    r:+0.71  25.60        54.44 (28.84)
        1:23.55 (29.11)     1:53.52 (29.97)
  2 Gati, Izzy G     SO Kentucky          1:58.50    1:53.98 qB     
    r:+0.66  25.79        54.75 (28.96)
        1:24.64 (29.89)     1:53.98 (29.34)
  3 Cieplucha, Tess  SR Tennessee         1:55.66    1:54.69 qB     
    r:+0.75  25.74        54.89 (29.15)
        1:24.78 (29.89)     1:54.69 (29.91)
  4 Kinsey, Hallie   SO South Carolina    1:57.79    1:54.80 qB     
    r:+0.67  25.66        54.48 (28.82)
        1:23.90 (29.42)     1:54.80 (30.90)
  5 Quah, Jing       JR Texas A&M         1:57.36    1:54.84 qB     
    r:+0.62  26.08        55.30 (29.22)
        1:24.60 (29.30)     1:54.84 (30.24)
  6 Harnish, Courtn  JR Georgia           1:54.39    1:54.92 qB     
    r:+0.76  25.86        55.04 (29.18)
        1:24.71 (29.67)     1:54.92 (30.21)
  7 Pike, Taylor A   JR Texas A&M         1:54.81    1:55.81 qB     
    r:+0.64  26.55        56.26 (29.71)
        1:25.84 (29.58)     1:55.81 (29.97)
  8 Preski, Alexis   SR Alabama           1:57.46    1:56.22 qB     
    r:+0.68  26.24        55.40 (29.16)
        1:25.33 (29.93)     1:56.22 (30.89)

Men’s 200 Fly

The Georgia men put up the top two times in the 200 butterfly with freshman Harry Homans (1:42.15) leading the way with last year’s champ Camden Murphy (1:42.89) in second place. The Bulldogs also have a rich history in the men’s 200 butterfly with 2011 alum Mark Dylla holding the pool record of 1:41.61 from 2009.

Missouri’s Micah Slaton (1:43.09) is seeded third ahead of Tennessee’s Marc Hinawi (1:43.16) and Kayky Mota (1:43.21).

Kentucky’s Mason Wilby (1:43.35), Auburn’s Santiago Grassi (1:43.86) and Florida’s Miguel Cancel (1:44.26) also advanced to the championship final.

Event 24  Men 200 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:37.35  3/25/2017 Jack Conger, Texas
     SEC Meet: S 1:40.59  2/19/2016 Hugo Morris, Auburn
         Pool: P 1:41.61  2/21/2009 Mark Dylla, Georgia
                 1:40.76  A
                 1:46.69  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Homans, Harry A  FR Georgia           1:43.31    1:42.15 qB     
    r:+0.64  22.81        48.73 (25.92)
        1:15.02 (26.29)     1:42.15 (27.13)
  2 Murphy, Camden   JR Georgia           1:42.49    1:42.89 qB     
    r:+0.65  23.34        49.86 (26.52)
        1:16.28 (26.42)     1:42.89 (26.61)
  3 Slaton, Micah L  SR Missouri          1:42.28    1:43.09 qB     
    r:+0.64  23.20        49.40 (26.20)
        1:15.94 (26.54)     1:43.09 (27.15)
  4 Hinawi, Marc     SR Tennessee         1:44.90    1:43.16 qB     
    r:+0.67  23.09        49.35 (26.26)
        1:16.20 (26.85)     1:43.16 (26.96)
  5 Mota, Kayky M       Tennessee         1:47.31    1:43.21 qB     
    r:+0.62  22.73        49.25 (26.52)
        1:16.17 (26.92)     1:43.21 (27.04)
  6 Wilby, Mason J   SO Kentucky          1:46.21    1:43.35 qB     
    r:+0.64  23.28        49.54 (26.26)
        1:15.96 (26.42)     1:43.35 (27.39)
  7 Grassi, Santiago SR Auburn            1:47.10    1:43.86 qB     
    r:+0.62  22.27        49.03 (26.76)
        1:16.08 (27.05)     1:43.86 (27.78)
  8 Cancel, Miguel   SO FLOR              1:47.81    1:44.26 qB     
    r:+0.65  23.26        49.88 (26.62)
        1:16.82 (26.94)     1:44.26 (27.44)

Women’s 100 Back

Alabama’s Rhyan White tied the SEC meet record in the 100 back with a 50.53 to match Gemma Spofforth’s time from 2009. White dipped under 51 and will be surrounded by seniors Asia Seidt (50.86) and Sherridon Dressel (51.07) in tonight’s finals. Another senior Emma Ball of Florida will also vie for the title as she is the fourth seed at 51.38.

Seidt will be tougher in tomorrow’s 200 while this is Dressel’s best shot at winning an individual title. The pool record of 50.31 is also in jeopardy that was set by Cindy Tran in 2012.

Missouri’s Sarah Thompson (51.75) will carry the load for the Tigers after top seed Haley Hynes declared a false start this morning.

Kentucky’s Caitlin Brooks (51.78), Alabama’s Morgan Scott (52.47) and Texas A&M’s Raena Eldridge (52.50) also advanced to the championship final.

 Event 25  Women 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 49.18  3/22/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
     SEC Meet: S 50.53  2/20/2009 Gemma Spofforth, Florida
         Pool: P 50.31  3/16/2012 Cindy Tran, California
                 50.93  A
                 53.94  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 White, Rhyan E   SO Alabama             51.12      50.53SqA     
    r:+0.61  11.91        24.41 (12.50)
          37.37 (12.96)       50.53 (13.16)
  2 Seidt, Asia M    SR Kentucky            51.58      50.86 qA     
    r:+0.60  12.21        24.87 (12.66)
          37.88 (13.01)       50.86 (12.98)
  3 Dressel, Sherri  SR FLOR                51.76      51.07 qB     
    r:+0.58  12.05        24.73 (12.68)
          38.02 (13.29)       51.07 (13.05)
  4 Ball, Emma       SR FLOR                52.44      51.38 qB     
    r:+0.55  11.85        24.70 (12.85)
          37.92 (13.22)       51.38 (13.46)
  5 Thompson, Sarah  JR Missouri            51.43      51.75 qB     
    r:+0.62  11.81        24.48 (12.67)
          37.95 (13.47)       51.75 (13.80)
  6 Brooks, Caitlin  FR Kentucky            51.62      51.78 qB     
    r:+0.52  12.23        25.04 (12.81)
          38.34 (13.30)       51.78 (13.44)
  7 Scott, Morgan E  SO Alabama             53.14      52.47 qB     
    r:+0.60  12.27        25.29 (13.02)
          38.87 (13.58)       52.47 (13.60)
  8 Eldridge, Raena  SR Texas A&M           53.17      52.50 qB     
    r:+0.54  12.32        25.27 (12.95)
          38.69 (13.42)       52.50 (13.81)

Men’s 100 Back

Texas A&M sophomore Shaine Casas also tied the meet record in the 100 back heats with a 44.73 to match Connor Oslin’s time from three years ago. Casas is just 0.01 ahead of Alabama senior Zane Waddell (44.74) as this looks to be living up to our pre-meet predictions when we said this 100 back would be one of the main races to watch all weekend.

The LSU Tigers have quietly had a good meet this week as senior Karl Luht (45.63) is seeded third in this event and should vie for a top three spot after freshman Brooks Curry won the silver in last night’s 200 free.

Missouri senior Daniel Hein (45.75) is seeded fourth ahead of Tennessee senior Matthew Garcia (45.98).

Alabama’s Matthew Menke (46.21), Florida’s Clark Beach (46.67) and Auburn’s Christian Ginieczki (46.73) also advanced to the championship final.

Event 26  Men 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 43.49  3/25/2016 Ryan Murphy, California
     SEC Meet: S 44.73  2/16/2017 Connor Oslin, Alabama
         Pool: P 45.45  2/20/2015 Connor Oslin, Alabama
                 44.95  A
                 47.77  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Casas, Shaine M  SO Texas A&M           44.48      44.73SqA     
    r:+0.54  10.34        21.52 (11.18)
          33.14 (11.62)       44.73 (11.59)
  2 Waddell, Zane    SR Alabama             45.46      44.74PqA     
    r:+0.57  10.42        21.57 (11.15)
          33.22 (11.65)       44.74 (11.52)
  3 Luht, Karl J     SR LSU                 46.09      45.63 qB     
    r:+0.53  10.52        21.84 (11.32)
          33.57 (11.73)       45.63 (12.06)
  4 Hein, Daniel W   SR Missouri            45.77      45.75 qB     
    r:+0.53  10.62        22.03 (11.41)
          33.84 (11.81)       45.75 (11.91)
  5 Garcia, Matthew  SR Tennessee           46.07      45.98 qB     
    r:+0.51  10.81        22.18 (11.37)
          34.03 (11.85)       45.98 (11.95)
  6 Menke, Matthew   FR Alabama             49.18      46.21 qB     
    r:+0.60  10.77        21.96 (11.19)
          33.92 (11.96)       46.21 (12.29)
  7 Beach, Clark G   JR FLOR                48.47      46.67 qB     
    r:+0.50  10.90        22.47 (11.57)
          34.47 (12.00)       46.67 (12.20)
  8 Ginieczki, Chri  JR Auburn              48.18      46.73 qB     
    r:+0.64  10.65        22.16 (11.51)
          34.35 (12.19)       46.73 (12.38)

Women’s 100 Breast

Georgia freshman Zoie Hartman is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke with a 58.43 as she continued Georgia’s strong day on Friday morning at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn. Hartman is seeded 1-2 with junior teammate Danielle Della Torre (59.10) as the Bulldogs had a big day with four total A-Finalists on the women’s side, the most of any school tied with Texas A&M.

The Aggies put one in the final as last year’s champ Anna Belousova is seeded third at 59.53.

Another school that had a big morning was South Carolina as the Gamecocks had freshman Taylor Steele secure a big drop with a 59.72 and senior Margaret Higgs (59.75) advancing to the championship final in fourth and fifth place.

Tennessee’s Nikol Popov (1:00.02), Tjasa Pintar (1:00.07) and LSU’s Niamh Robinson (1:00.21) also advanced to the championship final.

 Event 27  Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 55.73  3/22/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
     SEC Meet: S 57.28  2/21/2014 Breeja Larson, Texas A&M
         Pool: P 57.71  3/16/2012 Breeja Larson, Texas A&M
                 58.60  A
               1:01.84  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Hartman, Zoie E  FR Georgia             58.27      58.43 qA     
    r:+0.77  12.68        27.61 (14.93)
          42.90 (15.29)       58.43 (15.53)
  2 DellaTorre, Dan  JR Georgia             59.28      59.10 qB     
    r:+0.63  12.82        27.99 (15.17)
          43.34 (15.35)       59.10 (15.76)
  3 Belousova, Anna  SR Texas A&M           59.79      59.53 qB     
    r:+0.69  12.94        28.24 (15.30)
          43.66 (15.42)       59.53 (15.87)
  4 Steele, Taylor   FR South Carolina    1:00.98      59.72 qB     
    r:+0.65  12.75        27.88 (15.13)
          43.64 (15.76)       59.72 (16.08)
  5 Higgs, Albury A  SR South Carolina    1:00.81      59.75 qB     
    r:+0.67  12.70        27.99 (15.29)
          43.60 (15.61)       59.75 (16.15)
  6 Popov, Nikol A   JR Tennessee         1:00.33    1:00.02 qB     
    r:+0.68  12.92        28.04 (15.12)
          43.64 (15.60)     1:00.02 (16.38)
  7 Pintar, Tjasa    JR Tennessee         1:00.86    1:00.07 qB     
    r:+0.66  12.86        28.20 (15.34)
          43.91 (15.71)     1:00.07 (16.16)
  8 Robinson, Niamh  FR LSU               1:00.63    1:00.21 qB     
    r:+0.72  13.04        28.57 (15.53)
          44.27 (15.70)     1:00.21 (15.94)

Men’s 100 Breast

Florida’s Dillon Hillis had a two second drop from his seed time to secure the number one seed in the 100 breaststroke with a 51.28, dropping from his 53.45 seed time. He is ahead of Alabama freshman Derek Maas, who also had a big drop from his seed, at 51.81.

Both Florida and Alabama advanced two to the championship final with Florida’s Marco Guarente (51.82) and Alabama’s Liam Bell (52.23) getting to the A-Final.

There will be three freshmen in tonight’s final with Maas, Bell and Texas A&M’s Andres Puente Bustamante (52.36) advancing.

Tennessee’s Michael Houlie (52.17) and Texas A&M’s Benjamin Walker (52.62) also got through to the final.

 Event 28  Men 100 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 49.69  3/23/2018 Ian Finnerty, Indiana
     SEC Meet: S 50.03  2/18/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
         Pool: P 51.51  2/20/2015 Nic Fink, Georgia
                 51.67  A
                 54.27  B
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Hillis, Dillon   SO FLOR                53.45      51.28PqA     
    r:+0.63  10.92        23.93 (13.01)
          37.31 (13.38)       51.28 (13.97)
  2 Maas, Derek E    FR Alabama             54.15      51.81 qB     
    r:+0.70  10.91        24.22 (13.31)
          37.90 (13.68)       51.81 (13.91)
  3 Guarente, Marco  SR FLOR                54.26      51.82 qB     
    r:+0.59  10.90        24.12 (13.22)
          37.66 (13.54)       51.82 (14.16)
  4 Goldfaden, Itay  SR South Carolina      54.60      51.97 qB     
    r:+0.65  10.72        23.92 (13.20)
          37.64 (13.72)       51.97 (14.33)
  5 Houlie, Michael  SO Tennessee           52.32      52.17 qB     
    r:+0.62  10.94        24.22 (13.28)
          37.97 (13.75)       52.17 (14.20)
  6 Bell, Liam K     FR Alabama             53.53      52.23 qB     
    r:+0.69  11.09        24.40 (13.31)
          38.05 (13.65)       52.23 (14.18)
  7 Puente Bustaman  FR Texas A&M           52.49      52.36 qB     
    r:+0.67  11.09        24.48 (13.39)
          38.19 (13.71)       52.36 (14.17)
  8 Walker, Benjami  SR Texas A&M           54.08      52.62 qB     
    r:+0.62  10.99        24.36 (13.37)
          38.20 (13.84)       52.62 (14.42)

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