2022 SEC Championships: Rhyan White Finishes Triple Double, Tennessee Eases to Title

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Rhyan White; Photo Courtesy: Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
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2022 SEC Championships: Rhyan White Finishes Triple Double, Tennessee Eases to Title

In case anyone needed a reminder of Rhyan White’s pedigree, the red-white-and-blue Olympian’s swimsuit provides it. In the water, the Alabama senior provides copious amounts of evidence as to just how unbeatable she is in backstroke.

White won the women’s 200 back at the 2022 SEC Championships for the third consecutive year, completing the triple-double of backstroke events in her career. White was slightly slower than her SEC record of 1:48.06, but her time of 1:50.22 is both an NCAA A cut and likely evidence that she’s not fully rested, with powder staying dry to blast off at NCAA.

It started a big night for Alabama, but in a sensational team race, they fell just five points behind Kentucky in the battle for second place. That was a gutsy way for the Wildcats, last year’s champion, to hand over their crown. But there was no stopping Tennessee, which clinched its second title in three years – in home water, no less – with 1,313.5 points and a winning margin of 270 points.

Ellen Walshe won the Commissioner’s Trophy as the high scorer with 96 points. She was also named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet. South Carolina’s Brooke Schultz took home Diver of the Meet honors.

Event-by-event recaps are below.

2022 SEC Championships Links

Women’s team standings

 FINAL                    
 
  1. University of Tennessee        1313.5   2. Kentucky, University of          1043
  3. University of Alabama            1038   4. Georgia, University of            986
  5. University of Florida             905   6. Texas A&M University              625
  7. Auburn University                 584   8. Louisiana State University        541
  9. Missouri                        485.5  10. South Carolina, University of,    460
 11. University of Arkansas            397  12. Vanderbilt University             123

Women’s 1,650 freestyle

Kristen Stege started Tennessee’s coronation in style. She went out fast and never looked back in the mile, dropping 15 seconds off her seed time to clock in at 15:42.37, an NCAA A cut. She was more than nine seconds clear of runner-up Kensey McMahon, the senior also notching an A cut of 15:51.71. Abigail McCulloh’s 1:51.96 was also an auto cut and the only other swimmers to break 16 minutes.

Event 32  Women 1650 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 15:03.31  11/18/2017Katie Ledecky, Stanford
          SEC: S 15:27.84  3/20/2014 Brittany MacLean, Georgia
     SEC Meet: M 15:36.52  2/20/2016 Brittany MacLean, Georgia
         Pool: P 15:15.17  12/7/2013 Katie Ledecky, Nation's Capital
                 15:52.41  A
                 16:30.59  B
    Name           Year School               Seed     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
  1 Stege, Kristen   JR Tennessee-SE     15:57.63   15:42.37 A       32  
    r:+0.77  25.87        53.62 (27.75)
       14:46.27 (29.14)    15:15.05 (28.78)    15:42.37 (27.32)
  2 McMahon, Kensey  SR Alabama-SE       15:52.05   15:51.71 A       28  
    r:+0.59  27.17        56.14 (28.97)
       14:56.24 (28.99)    15:24.72 (28.48)    15:51.71 (26.99)
  3 McCulloh, Abigail FR Georgia-GA       15:57.23   15:51.96 A       27  
    r:+0.66  26.65        55.49 (28.84)
       14:56.44 (28.93)    15:24.87 (28.43)    15:51.96 (27.09)
  4 Breslin, Aly M   SO Tennessee-SE     16:24.61   16:03.12 B       26  
    r:+0.69  27.08        55.87 (28.79)
       15:05.51 (29.15)    15:34.77 (29.26)    16:03.12 (28.35)
  5 Drumm, Megan P   SO Kentucky-KY      16:34.01   16:11.14 B       25  
    r:+0.73  26.96        56.23 (29.27)
       15:12.11 (29.67)    15:41.96 (29.85)    16:11.14 (29.18)
  6 Preble, Averee   JR Auburn-SE        16:38.41   16:12.83 B       24  
    r:+0.70  26.81        55.60 (28.79)
       15:14.26 (29.78)    15:43.93 (29.67)    16:12.83 (28.90)
  7 Mathieu, Tylor   JR Florida-FL       16:15.76   16:13.39 B       23  
    r:+0.78  27.29        57.28 (29.99)
       15:16.83 (29.29)    15:45.92 (29.09)    16:13.39 (27.47)
  8 Palsha, Peyton      Georgia-GA       16:41.59   16:13.64 B       22  
    r:+0.70  26.88        55.49 (28.61)
       15:17.86 (29.45)    15:46.20 (28.34)    16:13.64 (27.44)

Women’s 200 backstroke

Alabama entered the night 69 points behind Georgia and 27 points back of Kentucky. The Wildcats managed to hold serve in the 200 back, thanks to a massive effort by Caitlin Brooks. She threatened Rhyan White and actually was ahead of her by .08 off the 150-wall, but White worked her underwaters to surge ahead for good with a 28.85 final 50.

Still, a second-place result for Brooks, a spot ahead of teammate Sophie Sorenson, is big for Kentucky. Teammate Parker Herren was seventh. White was backed by Morgan Liberto in fifth.

 Event 34  Women 200 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:47.24  3/23/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
          SEC: S 1:48.06  2/22/2020 Rhyan White, Alabama
     SEC Meet: M 1:48.34  2/21/2009 Gemma Spofforth, Florida
         Pool: P 1:49.30  11/21/2020Rhyan White, Alabama
                 1:50.50  A
                 1:57.11  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 White, Rhyan E   SR Alabama-SE        1:51.57    1:50.22 A       32  
    r:+0.68  25.36        53.15 (27.79)
        1:21.37 (28.22)     1:50.22 (28.85)
  2 Brooks, Caitlin  JR Kentucky-KY       1:53.43    1:50.73 B       28  
    r:+0.51  25.64        52.99 (27.35)
        1:21.29 (28.30)     1:50.73 (29.44)
  3 Sorenson, Sophie    Kentucky-KY       1:52.62    1:52.22 B       27  
    r:+0.81  25.79        53.42 (27.63)
        1:22.12 (28.70)     1:52.22 (30.10)
  4 Kraus, Mari L    SR South Carolina-S  1:53.44    1:53.11 B       26  
    r:+0.71  26.84        54.78 (27.94)
        1:23.58 (28.80)     1:53.11 (29.53)
  5 Liberto, Morgan  SR Alabama-SE        1:52.63    1:53.31 B       25  
    r:+0.64  26.24        54.39 (28.15)
        1:23.62 (29.23)     1:53.31 (29.69)
  6 Barzelay, Aviv   FR Texas A&M-GU      1:54.17    1:53.77 B       24  
    r:+0.62  26.48        54.93 (28.45)
        1:24.47 (29.54)     1:53.77 (29.30)
  7 Herren, Parker   SR Kentucky-KY       1:53.96    1:54.58 B       23  
    r:+0.77  26.94        55.95 (29.01)
        1:25.50 (29.55)     1:54.58 (29.08)
  8 Rees, Meredith   JR Missouri-MV       1:53.82    1:55.21 B       22  
    r:+0.68  26.28        54.78 (28.50)
        1:24.68 (29.90)     1:55.21 (30.53)

Women’s 100 freestyle

The 2022 SEC Championships were briefly interrupted Saturday night for a dual meet to break out in the 100 free. Four Alabama swimmers, three Tennessee swimmers and a stray Riley Gaines got in there somehow.

The only difference was that a podium sweep turned into 112 points for the Crimson Tide instead of a relatively more modest dual-meet return.

The Tide came in holding the top four spots out of prelims, and rolled to a 1-2-3-5 finish. Morgan Scott led the way in 47.32, an NCAA B cut. Second was Kalia Antoniou, who surged on the final 24 to touch in 47.67, ahead of teammate Diana Petkova (47.82). Cora Dupre was fifth, Gaines slipping into fourth.

The point yield vaults the Crimson Tide from fourth to second place in the team standings.

Special mention goes to Texas A&M’s Chloe Stepanek: She had an off swim in the morning to land in the C final, then the sophomore annihilated the field with a 47.78. That would’ve gotten her on the podium in third in the A final.

Event 36  Women 100 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 45.56  3/18/2017 Simone Manuel, Stanford
          SEC: S 45.83  2/22/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
     SEC Meet: M 45.83  2/22/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
         Pool: P 46.15  11/23/2019Erika Brown, Tennessee
                 47.18  A
                 49.51  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Scott, Morgan E  SR Alabama-SE          47.77      47.32 B       32  
    r:+0.57  10.66        22.48 (11.82)
          34.94 (12.46)       47.32 (12.38)
  2 Antoniou, Kalia  JR Alabama-SE          48.08      47.67 B       28  
    r:+0.64  11.04        23.00 (11.96)
          35.62 (12.62)       47.67 (12.05)
  3 Petkova, Diana   SO Alabama-SE          48.29      47.82 B       27  
    r:+0.67  10.88        22.86 (11.98)
          35.42 (12.56)       47.82 (12.40)
  4 Gaines, Riley M  SR Kentucky-KY         48.35      47.88 B       26  
    r:+0.65  10.91        23.18 (12.27)
          35.45 (12.27)       47.88 (12.43)
  5 Dupre, Cora A    JR Alabama-SE          48.20      47.91 B       25  
    r:+0.62  10.95        23.08 (12.13)
          35.50 (12.42)       47.91 (12.41)
  6 Pintar, Tjasa    SR Tennessee-SE        48.41      48.41 B       24  
    r:+0.62  11.21        23.52 (12.31)
          36.09 (12.57)       48.41 (12.32)
  7 Rumley, Jasmine  SO Tennessee-SE        48.41      48.49 B       23  
    r:+0.60  10.94        23.09 (12.15)
          35.77 (12.68)       48.49 (12.72)
  8 Rothrock, Trude  SR Tennessee-SE        48.48      48.85 B       22  
    r:+0.67  11.17        23.45 (12.28)
          36.27 (12.82)       48.85 (12.58)

Women’s 200 breaststroke

Mona McSharry and Zoie Hartman went 1-2 in the 100 breast. Hartman was denied by another Tennessee swimmers in the 200 IM. Surely it had to be her moment? Or perhaps yet another installment of the Volunteers’ sterling week?

Gillian Davey had other plans. The junior, who was second to Hartman in this event last year, got her hand to the wall first in a sensational race, clocking in at an A cut of 2:06.21. She beat Hartman by just .06, the juniors coming home in identical splits of 32.85 seconds.

It was a three-swimmer race at 150 yards, with McSharry (1:33.33) in the lead by .03 on Dave and .09 on Hartman. But he 100 breast champ faded, finishing third in 2:07.29. Hartman appeared to take the lead off the final wall, but Davey surged in the closing yards to get there first. Both times are A cuts.

Kentucky, in an oddity, won all three finals, with Lauren Poole ninth and Bridget Engel 17th. That nudges Kentucky back into second place, 29 points up on Alabama and 55 clear of Georgia.

Event 38  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 2:02.60  3/17/2018 Lilly King, Indiana
          SEC: S 2:03.26  3/17/2018 Bethany Galat, Texas A&M
     SEC Meet: M 2:04.62  2/18/2018 Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M
         Pool: P 2:03.58  11/20/2021Kate Douglass, Virginia
                 2:06.58  A
                 2:13.97  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Davey, Gillian   JR Kentucky-KY       2:07.78    2:06.21 A       32  
    r:+0.69  28.98      1:00.74 (31.76)
        1:33.36 (32.62)     2:06.21 (32.85)
  2 Hartman, Zoie E  JR Georgia-GA        2:07.46    2:06.27 A       28  
    r:+0.74  28.66      1:00.85 (32.19)
        1:33.42 (32.57)     2:06.27 (32.85)
  3 McSharry, Mona   SO Tennessee-SE      2:07.24    2:07.29 B       27  
    r:+0.62  28.49      1:00.38 (31.89)
        1:33.33 (32.95)     2:07.29 (33.96)
  4 Bonnett, Bailey     Kentucky-KY       2:08.35    2:07.96 B       26  
    r:+0.63  29.46      1:01.59 (32.13)
        1:34.54 (32.95)     2:07.96 (33.42)
  5 Yager, Alexis A  SR Tennessee-SE      2:09.04    2:08.42 B       25  
    r:+0.69  29.42      1:01.52 (32.10)
        1:34.69 (33.17)     2:08.42 (33.73)
  6 Dellatorre, Dan     Georgia-GA        2:09.68    2:08.45 B       24  
    r:+0.69  29.28      1:01.66 (32.38)
        1:35.08 (33.42)     2:08.45 (33.37)
  7 Wiseman, Avery   FR Alabama-SE        2:08.66    2:08.94 B       23  
    r:+0.69  28.49      1:00.79 (32.30)
        1:33.97 (33.18)     2:08.94 (34.97)
  8 Wright, Cat G    SR Alabama-SE        2:09.15    2:10.88 B       22  
    r:+0.68  29.37      1:02.29 (32.92)
        1:35.96 (33.67)     2:10.88 (34.92)

Women’s platform diving

Tanesha Lucoe earned 9s on her final dive to surge ahead of LSU’s Helle Tuxen and claim diving gold by less than a point. Lucoe scored 304.10, just ahead of Tuxen (303.15). Kentucky’s Kyndal Knight was third.

That sets up drama in the team competition: If Alabama wins the 400 free relay, in which it is the top seed by a wide margin, and Kentucky finishes worse than ninth, Alabama would finish second in the team standings. Kentucky entered seeded ninth.

Event 40  Women Platform Diving
=========================================================================
          SEC: S 356.10  2/22/2014 Victoria Lamp, Tennessee
     SEC Meet: M 356.10  2/22/2014 Victoria Lamp, Tennessee
         Pool: P 377.60  12/18/2012Jessica Paratto, Unattached
                 225.00  A
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Lucoe, Tanesha   JR Alabama-SE         284.50     304.10 A       32  
  2 Tuxen, Helle     SO LSU-LA             285.05     303.15 A       28  
  3 Knight, Kyndal   SR Kentucky-KY        266.40     289.95 A       27  
  4 Lavenant, Monts  SO LSU-LA             269.05     275.70 A       26  
  5 Wensuc, Gretche  JR Auburn-SE          247.25     271.95 A       25  
  6 Amer, Maha       SO Florida-FL         286.80     260.15 A       24  
  7 Neroni, Elettra     Florida-FL         261.60     232.00 A       23  
  8 Wenzel, Meghan   SO Georgia-GA         275.35     197.90         22

Women’s 400 freestyle relay

Alabama made it four relay wins out of five at the meet, though Tennessee made things interesting. A safe voyage on their relay starts gave the Crimson Tide – Diana Petkova, Morgan Scott, Kalia Antoniou and Cora Dupre – a win in 3:10.36. It’s a pool record, and makes its two straight years for Bama, the reigning NCAA champion in this event. Petkova, who was third in the individual event, went out even faster in 47.69. Scott had the fastest split in the field in 47.17.

Tennessee was second to Alabama again, giving them a run in 3:11.38. That’s an A cut time. Florida and Texas A&M added A cuts.

In the team standings, Kentucky finished exactly where it needed to be in ninth, allowing the now deposed champions to hold on to second place ahead of the rampant tide.

Event 41  Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 3:06.96  3/23/2019 California
                          I. Ivey, K. McLaughlin, A. Bilquist, A.Weitzeil
          SEC: S 3:08.97  3/18/2017 Georgia
                          O Smoliga, V Burchill, M Raab, C Van Landeghem
     SEC Meet: M 3:09.18  2/22/2020 Auburn
                          J. Meynan, C. Fisch, R. Clevenger, A. Webb
         Pool: P 3:10.59  11/20/2021Alabama
                          K Antoniou, M Scott, D Petkova, C Dupre
                 3:14.50  A
                 3:16.35  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Alabama-SE  'A'               3:10.59    3:10.36PA       64  
     1) Petkova, Diana P SO           2) r:0.16 Scott, Morgan SR      
     3) r:0.31 Antoniou, Kalia JR     4) r:0.25 Dupre, Cora JR        
    r:+0.65  22.70        47.69 (47.69)
        1:09.77 (22.08)     1:34.86 (47.17)
        1:57.85 (22.99)     2:22.85 (47.99)
        2:45.40 (22.55)     3:10.36 (47.51)
  2 Tennessee-SE  'A'             3:14.59    3:11.38 A       56  
     1) Mrozinski, Julia M FR         2) r:0.39 Walshe, Ellen FR      
     3) r:0.26 Rumley, Jasmine SO     4) r:0.29 Pintar, Tjasa SR      
    r:+0.65  23.10        47.92 (47.92)
        1:11.15 (23.23)     1:36.13 (48.21)
        1:58.82 (22.69)     2:23.69 (47.56)
        2:46.60 (22.91)     3:11.38 (47.69)
  3 Florida-FL  'A'               3:15.03    3:12.37 A       54  
     1) Bates, Talia B JR             2) r:0.32 Nikonova, Ekaterina FR
     3) r:0.23 Cronk, Micayla FR      4) r:0.37 Mack, Katelyn JR      
    r:+0.56  23.05        47.96 (47.96)
        1:11.11 (23.15)     1:35.94 (47.98)
        1:58.89 (22.95)     2:24.25 (48.31)
        2:46.89 (22.64)     3:12.37 (48.12)
  4 Texas A&M-GU  'A'             3:17.45    3:14.24 A       52  
     1) Kennett, Bobbi G SO           2) r:0.08 Buechler, Jordan SO   
     3) r:0.18 Owens, Kaitlyn FR      4) r:0.24 Stepanek, Chloe SO    
    r:+0.70  23.12        48.47 (48.47)
        1:11.82 (23.35)     1:37.42 (48.95)
        2:00.31 (22.89)     2:26.42 (49.00)
        2:49.17 (22.75)     3:14.24 (47.82)
  5 Arkansas-AR  'A'              3:15.01    3:14.69 B       50  
     1) Melton, Kobie M SR            2) r:0.41 Sansores, Andrea SR   
     3) r:-0.03 Cothern, Bella SO     4) r:0.17 Barclay, Emily SR     
    r:+0.63  23.12        48.42 (48.42)
        1:11.55 (23.13)     1:37.33 (48.91)
        1:59.97 (22.64)     2:26.01 (48.68)
        2:49.04 (23.03)     3:14.69 (48.68)
  6 Georgia-GA  'A'               3:14.77    3:15.20 B       48  
     1) Parker, Maxine C SO           2) r:0.51 Hartman, Zoie JR      
     3) r:0.27 Dickinson, Callie SR   4) r:0.38 McCarty, Eboni FR     
    r:+0.72  23.43        48.48 (48.48)
        1:11.49 (23.01)     1:36.74 (48.26)
        2:00.11 (23.37)     2:25.92 (49.18)
        2:49.03 (23.11)     3:15.20 (49.28)
  7 LSU-LA  'A'                   3:18.14    3:15.71 B       46  
     1) Milutinovich, Katarina JR     2) r:0.25 Bellina, Hannah SO    
     3) r:0.16 Osborne, Reagan SO     4) r:0.00 Kucsan, Natalie SR    
    r:+0.62  23.25        48.41 (48.41)
        1:11.76 (23.35)     1:38.12 (49.71)
        2:01.26 (23.14)     2:27.20 (49.08)
        2:49.91 (22.71)     3:15.71 (48.51)
  8 Missouri-MV  'A'              3:16.33    3:16.29 B       44  
     1) Feddersen, Amy J JR           2) r:0.22 Thompson, Sarah SR    
     3) r:0.26 Smith, Sierra          4) r:0.33 Keil, Megan SR        
    r:+0.69  23.73        49.12 (49.12)
        1:11.88 (22.76)     1:38.08 (48.96)
        2:01.36 (23.28)     2:27.04 (48.96)
        2:50.49 (23.45)     3:16.29 (49.25)
  9 Kentucky-KY  'A'              3:18.06    3:16.53         40  
     1) Gati, Izzy G SR               2) r:0.14 Sorenson, Sophie SR   
     3) r:0.26 Wheeler, Kaitlynn JR   4) r:0.32 Bonnett, Bailey       
    r:+0.58  23.52        48.94 (48.94)
        1:12.17 (23.23)     1:37.68 (48.74)
        2:01.15 (23.47)     2:27.12 (49.44)
        2:50.63 (23.51)     3:16.53 (49.41)
 10 Auburn-SE  'A'                3:15.29    3:16.59         34  
     1) Hamilton, Rebekah L FR        2) r:0.18 Leehy, Mykenzie       
     3) r:0.22 Mulvihill, Lexie FR    4) r:0.21 Thamm, Claudia JR     
    r:+0.66  23.66        49.67 (49.67)
        1:12.81 (23.14)     1:38.30 (48.63)
        2:01.35 (23.05)     2:27.20 (48.90)
        2:50.17 (22.97)     3:16.59 (49.39)
 11 South Carolina-SC  'A'        3:18.39    3:18.14         32  
     1) Smith, Janie L JR             2) r:0.42 Kraus, Mari SR        
     3) r:0.35 Doennebrink, Daelle GR 4) r:0.19 Shanks, Cory FR       
    r:+0.67  23.56        49.05 (49.05)
        1:12.69 (23.64)     1:38.35 (49.30)
        2:01.79 (23.44)     2:27.95 (49.60)
        2:51.43 (23.48)     3:18.14 (50.19)
 12 Vanderbilt-SE  'A'            3:25.71    3:26.25         30  
     1) Beers, Eleanor D SO           2) r:0.31 Debeer, Tonner SR     
     3) r:0.16 Pierobon Mays, iela SO 4) r:0.35 Almasi, Grayson FR    
    r:+0.73  24.63        51.22 (51.22)
        1:15.59 (24.37)     1:43.23 (52.01)
        2:07.12 (23.89)     2:33.83 (50.60)
        2:58.12 (24.29)     3:26.25 (52.42)
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