2022 SEC Championships, Day 5: Trey Freeman Delivers Epic Mile Win in Florida Title Waltz

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Trey Freeman; Photo Courtesy: NCAA Media

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2022 SEC Championships, Day 5: Trey Freeman Delivers Epic Mile Win

There will be no shortage of signature moments in Florida’s 10th consecutive SEC title. But Trey Freeman’s entry on the final day of the 2022 SEC Championships might take the cake.

Freeman hit the wall at 1,500 yards more than three seconds behind teammate Tyler Watson and the pre-race favorite, Jake Magahey from Georgia. But in a nod to his famous teammate who isn’t present this weekend, Freeman just destroyed the final 150 yards to get the win.

In a finish that could only be described as Finke-ian, Freeman got his hand to the wall first in 14:39.74 to win the mile, Florida taking two podium spots and four of the top six to consolidate its hegemony over the SEC field. Coupled with a clean sweep of the five relays, the Gators scored 1,414 points to dominate the field by more than 400 points. That was ahead of a tie – yes, a tie – between Alabama and Tennessee for second.

Luca Urlando of Georgia took home the SEC Commissioner’s Trophy and the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet honor. LSU’s Juan Celaya Hernandez is the Diver of the Meet.

The event-by-event recap of the final night of the 2022 SEC Championships.

2022 SEC Championships Links

Men’s team standings

FINAL                     
 
  1. University of Florida            1414   2. University of Tennessee           938
  2. University of Alabama             938   4. Georgia, University of            919
  5. Texas A&M University            865.5   6. Auburn University               827.5
  7. Missouri                        716.5   8. Kentucky, University of           600
  9. Louisiana State University        505  10. South Carolina, University of,  417.5

Men’s 1,650 freestyle

Spare a though for Tyler Watson. For 1,200 yards, the Florida junior was in total control of the race. For 1,400 yards, he looked like a winner. But he ended up third, the early rabbit overhauled by the chasers. As consolation prizes go, a first ever sub-15-minute time in 14:40.45 isn’t too bad.

The race was all about Trey Freeman. Even without Bobby Finke, the reigning national champion and NCAA record holder in the event, missing the meet due to health and safety protocols, the Gators distance group didn’t miss a beat. These splits from the final five 50s:

  • Trey Freeman – 26.10 26.06 25.68 25.03 23.92
  • Jake Magahey – 26.65 26.64 26.60 26.31 25.22
  • Tyler Watson – 27.17 27.07 26.82 26.75 24.94

That’s how you claw back a four-second deficit in a hurry. Freeman’s winning time is a high B cut, with Jake Magahey second in 14:40.20. Auburn’s Michael Bonson was in the conversation until the end in fourth, while Oskar Lindholm and Alfonso Mestre added huge points for the Gators.

Event 33  Men 1650 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 14:12.08  2/22/2020 Robert Finke, Florida
          SEC: S 14:12.08  2/22/2020 Bobby Finke, Florida
     SEC Meet: M 14:12.08  2/22/2020 Robert Finke, Florida
         Pool: P 14:38.91  2/18/2017 Akaram Mahmoud, South Carolina
                 14:37.31  A
                 15:26.19  B
    Name           Year School               Seed     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
  1 Trey Freeman     JR Florida-FL       14:50.11   14:39.74 B       32  
    r:+0.68  24.32        51.07 (26.75)
       13:50.79 (25.68)    14:15.82 (25.03)    14:39.74 (23.92)
  2 Magahey, Jake M  SO Georgia-GA       14:49.98   14:40.20 B       28  
    r:+0.66  24.06        50.37 (26.31)
       13:48.67 (26.60)    14:14.98 (26.31)    14:40.20 (25.22)
  3 Watson, Tyler J  JR Florida-FL       15:00.00   14:40.45 B       27  
    r:+0.75  24.32        50.51 (26.19)
       13:48.76 (26.82)    14:15.51 (26.75)    14:40.45 (24.94)
  4 Bonson, Michael  SO Auburn-SE        14:52.80   14:44.63 B       26  
    r:+0.75  24.48        51.09 (26.61)
       13:51.26 (27.10)    14:18.44 (27.18)    14:44.63 (26.19)
  5 Lindholm, Oskar  FR Florida-FL       15:05.65   14:50.78 B       25  
    r:+0.79  24.58        51.51 (26.93)
       13:59.18 (26.85)    14:25.84 (26.66)    14:50.78 (24.94)
  6 Mestre, Alfonso  JR Florida-FL       14:54.18   14:53.32 B       24  
    r:+0.72  24.34        51.09 (26.75)
       14:00.45 (27.47)    14:27.46 (27.01)    14:53.32 (25.86)
  7 Hernandez-Tome,  JR Florida-FL       15:22.05   14:54.46 B       23  
    r:+0.67  24.41        50.87 (26.46)
       14:00.83 (27.49)    14:28.21 (27.38)    14:54.46 (26.25)
  8 VanDeusen, Jack  SO Florida-FL       15:06.66   14:55.57 B       22  
    r:+0.70  24.79        51.31 (26.52)
       14:02.57 (27.53)    14:29.56 (26.99)    14:55.57 (26.01)

Men’s 200 backstroke

The phrase “off event” is always relative when it comes to Kieran Smith. One man’s off event is another’s top-end speed.

Smith and his Florida coaches will face decisions across the board at NCAAs, the latest rendered by Smith clocking in at 1:39.51 to win the 200 back. Smith was pushed by Ethan Gogulski, who got picked up the lead at 150 yards with a 25.19 third 50. But Smith came home in 25.43, working his last wall and using all 6-foot-5 of his frame to get the better of Gogulski by .07 seconds. Both are B cuts, with Gogulski in 1:39.58. Anze Erzen, his teammate and the top seed from prelims, was third in 1:40.31.

Event 35  Men 200 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:35.73  3/26/2016 Ryan Murphy, California
          SEC: S 1:35.75  3/27/2021 Shaine Casas, Texas A&M
     SEC Meet: M 1:36.85  2/24/2021 Shaine Casas, Texas A&M
         Pool: P 1:37.87  12/5/2013 Arkady Vyatchanin, NY Aquatics
                 1:39.13  A
                 1:45.04  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Smith, Kieran S  SR Florida-FL        1:40.90    1:39.51 B       32  
    r:+0.70  23.63        48.73 (25.10)
        1:14.08 (25.35)     1:39.51 (25.43)
  2 Gogulski, Ethan  JR Texas A&M-GU      1:40.87    1:39.58 B       28  
    r:+0.73  23.65        48.83 (25.18)
        1:14.02 (25.19)     1:39.58 (25.56)
  3 Erzen, Anze F    JR Texas A&M-GU      1:40.36    1:40.31 B       27  
    r:+0.65  23.71        49.04 (25.33)
        1:14.69 (25.65)     1:40.31 (25.62)
  4 Dunham, Bradley  JR Georgia-GA        1:40.54    1:40.69 B       26  
    r:+0.81  23.56        49.00 (25.44)
        1:14.80 (25.80)     1:40.69 (25.89)
  5 Dahlgren, Jack   SR Missouri-MV       1:40.91    1:41.08 B       25  
    r:+0.70  23.53        48.99 (25.46)
        1:14.81 (25.82)     1:41.08 (26.27)
  6 Marcum, Jake L   SR Alabama-SE        1:41.49    1:41.26 B       24  
    r:+0.72  23.85        49.13 (25.28)
        1:14.94 (25.81)     1:41.26 (26.32)
  7 Smith, Lleyton   JR Auburn-SE         1:41.50    1:42.04 B       23  
    r:+0.71  23.39        48.48 (25.09)
        1:14.79 (26.31)     1:42.04 (27.25)
  8 Stelmar, Eric R  SO Alabama-SE        1:41.53    1:42.18 B       22  
    r:+0.68  23.57        49.37 (25.80)
        1:15.46 (26.09)     1:42.18 (26.72)

Men’s 100 freestyle

The battle of Brooks v. Crooks delivered, as did the former over the final 25 yards.

Brooks Curry covered the final 25 yards in 10.80 seconds, clawing back six tenths on Jordan Crooks to win the 100 free in 40.99. It’s an SEC Championships record, downing the time Caeleb Dressel set in 2016 (41.07). He also takes Dressel’s pool record and is the eighth-fastest in NCAA history.

Crooks was with Curry all the way, the Tennessee freshman going 41.64 to grab silver to augment his gold in the 50 free. Adam Chaney of Florida was third in 41.83. Curry and Crooks both have A cuts.

Event 37  Men 100 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 39.90  3/24/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
          SEC: S 39.90  3/24/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
     SEC Meet: M 41.07  2/20/2016 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
         Pool: P 41.24  2/18/2017 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
                 41.71  A
                 43.80  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Curry, Brooks V  JR LSU-LA              41.82      40.99MA       32  
     r:+0.59  9.20        19.47 (10.27)
          30.19 (10.72)       40.99 (10.80)
  2 Crooks, Jordan   FR Tennessee-SE        41.92      41.64 A       28  
     r:+0.62  9.15        19.36 (10.21)
          30.24 (10.88)       41.64 (11.40)
  3 Chaney, Adam C   SO Florida-FL          42.17      41.83 B       27  
     r:+0.64  9.39        20.00 (10.61)
          30.95 (10.95)       41.83 (10.88)
  4 McDuff, Macguir  FR Florida-FL          42.47      42.24 B       26  
     r:+0.63  9.55        20.42 (10.87)
          31.41 (10.99)       42.24 (10.83)
  5 Bratanov, Kaloy  SR Texas A&M-GU        42.37      42.39 B       25  
     r:+0.63  9.54        19.97 (10.43)
          31.15 (11.18)       42.39 (11.24)
  6 Friese, Eric E   JR Florida-FL          42.58      42.65 B       24  
     r:+0.63  9.34        19.83 (10.49)
          31.20 (11.37)       42.65 (11.45)
  7 Tarasenko, Alek     Tennessee-SE        42.72      42.86 B       23  
     r:+0.65  9.77        20.38 (10.61)
          31.62 (11.24)       42.86 (11.24)
  8 Alves, Kaique K  FR Alabama-SE          42.60      42.93 B       22  
     r:+0.65  9.64        20.47 (10.83)
          31.66 (11.19)       42.93 (11.27)

Men’s 200 breaststroke

Derek Maas and Reid Mikuta went back and forth in the 200 breast, but it was the 100 breast champ who got a second gold medal. The Alabama junior got to the wall first in 1:51.56, an SEC meet record that trims .02 off Nic Fink’s seven-year-old mark. It also downs Anton McKee’s pool record from 2017.

Mikuta was second in 1:52.09, also under the pool record and like Maas an NCAA A cut. Andres Bustamante Puente was third in 1:52.77 for Texas A&M.

Maas’s win helps Alabama scoot two points in front of Tennessee in the race for second. The Crimson Tide are just 17 points clear of fourth-place Georgia entering the final relay.

Event 39  Men 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:47.91  3/25/2017 Will Licon, Texas
          SEC: S 1:50.80  3/28/2015 Nic Fink, Georgia
     SEC Meet: M 1:51.58  2/21/2015 Nic Fink, Georgia
         Pool: P 1:52.22  2/18/2017 Anton McKee, Alabama
                 1:52.28  A
                 1:58.43  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Maas, Derek E    JR Alabama-SE        1:53.11    1:51.56MA       32  
    r:+0.67  25.08        53.85 (28.77)
        1:22.67 (28.82)     1:51.56 (28.89)
  2 Mikuta, Reid R   SO Auburn-SE         1:53.10    1:52.09PA       28  
    r:+0.64  25.21        53.46 (28.25)
        1:22.25 (28.79)     1:52.09 (29.84)
  3 Puente Bustaman  JR Texas A&M-GU      1:53.17    1:52.77 B       27  
    r:+0.68  25.10        53.63 (28.53)
        1:22.84 (29.21)     1:52.77 (29.93)
  4 Al-Wir, Amro B   SO Florida-FL        1:54.14    1:53.90 B       26  
    r:+0.65  26.00        54.75 (28.75)
        1:24.15 (29.40)     1:53.90 (29.75)
  5 Vargas, Kevin L  JR Florida-FL        1:54.58    1:54.45 B       25  
    r:+0.63  25.75        54.58 (28.83)
        1:24.00 (29.42)     1:54.45 (30.45)
  6 Goodwin, Will A  JR Missouri-MV       1:54.06    1:54.67 B       24  
    r:+0.58  25.65        54.58 (28.93)
        1:23.95 (29.37)     1:54.67 (30.72)
  7 Ribeiro, Vincen  SO Texas A&M-GU      1:54.67    1:54.76 B       23  
    r:+0.58  25.69        54.66 (28.97)
        1:24.40 (29.74)     1:54.76 (30.36)
  8 Dillard, Jarel   SR Tennessee-SE      1:55.35    1:55.48 B       22  
    r:+0.63  25.09        53.33 (28.24)
        1:23.28 (29.95)     1:55.48 (32.20)

Men’s 400 freestyle relay

It’s five-for-five in relays, 10-for-10 in league titles for Florida.

Macguire McDuff, Adam Chaney, Eric Friese and Kieran Smith coasted home with a time of 2:46.91, a pool record to win the crown by a second and a half. Smith brought it home in 41.31, just .01 slower than Chaney’s leg.

Tennessee finished second to hold off the push by Alabama in the team standings. Both hit A cuts – UT in 2:48.46, Bama in 2:49.11 – to finish tied for second. Jordan Crooks led the Vols out in 41.44, just .02 slower than the leadoff leg by Brooks Curry in a lead-off leg 100 free rematch in the B final. Matt Menke brought Bama home in an impressive 41.88.

Event 42  Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 2:44.31  3/24/2018 NC State
                          R. Held, J. Ress, J. Molacek, C. Stewart
          SEC: S 2:45.73  3/24/2018 Florida
                          K Baqlah, J Switkowski, C Dressel, M Szaranek
     SEC Meet: M 2:46.03  2/21/2009 Auburn
                          J. Andkjaer, G. Louw, K. Norys, M. Targett
         Pool: P 2:47.09  2/17/2017 Florida
                          M Rooney, M Szaranek, C Dressel, J Switkowski
                 2:50.99  A
                 2:52.46  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Florida-FL  'A'               2:49.82    2:46.91PA       64  
     1) McDuff, Macguire V FR         2) r:0.24 Chaney, Adam SO       
     3) r:0.13 Friese, Eric JR        4) r:0.21 Smith, Kieran SR      
    r:+0.63  20.09        42.65 (42.65)
        1:02.24 (19.59)     1:23.97 (41.32)
        1:43.29 (19.32)     2:05.60 (41.63)
        2:25.16 (19.56)     2:46.91 (41.31)
  2 Tennessee-SE  'A'             2:51.98    2:48.46 A       56  
     1) Crooks, Jordan J FR           2) r:0.06 Chambers, Micah SO    
     3) r:0.33 Kammann, Bjoern        4) r:0.12 Tarasenko, Aleksey    
    r:+0.61  19.38        41.44 (41.44)
        1:01.22 (19.78)     1:24.19 (42.75)
        1:44.22 (20.03)     2:06.36 (42.17)
        2:26.25 (19.89)     2:48.46 (42.10)
  3 Alabama-SE  'A'               2:50.41    2:49.11 A       54  
     1) Alves, Kaique K FR            2) r:0.17 Berneburg, Jonathan SR
     3) r:0.26 Maas, Derek JR         4) r:0.11 Menke, Matthew JR     
    r:+0.65  20.34        42.60 (42.60)
        1:02.31 (19.71)     1:24.65 (42.05)
        1:44.80 (20.15)     2:07.23 (42.58)
        2:26.97 (19.74)     2:49.11 (41.88)
  4 Georgia-GA  'A'               2:50.89    2:50.65 A       52  
     1) Sates, Matthew E FR           2) r:0.16 Hils, Zach JR         
     3) r:0.31 Branzell, Reese FR     4) r:0.37 Magahey, Jake SO      
    r:+0.65  20.40        42.71 (42.71)
        1:02.53 (19.82)     1:24.80 (42.09)
        1:45.01 (20.21)     2:07.45 (42.65)
        2:27.98 (20.53)     2:50.65 (43.20)
  5 Texas A&M-GU  'A'             2:56.36    2:52.05 B       50  
     1) Bratanov, Kaloyan D SR        2) r:0.24 Gogulski, Ethan JR    
     3) r:0.17 Fuchs, Collin SO       4) r:0.22 Bobo, Clayton SR      
    r:+0.64  20.23        42.57 (42.57)
        1:03.30 (20.73)     1:25.65 (43.08)
        1:45.92 (20.27)     2:08.64 (42.99)
        2:29.18 (20.54)     2:52.05 (43.41)
  6 LSU-LA  'A'                   2:53.54    2:52.07 B       48  
     1) Curry, Brooks V JR            2) r:0.20 Hassling, Emil SO     
     3) r:0.30 Jannasch, Jack SR      4) r:0.08 Adrian, Spencer JR    
    r:+0.59  19.74        41.42 (41.42)
        1:01.86 (20.44)     1:25.20 (43.78)
        1:45.54 (20.34)     2:09.09 (43.89)
        2:29.17 (20.08)     2:52.07 (42.98)
  7 Auburn-SE  'A'                2:51.39    2:52.16 B       46  
     1) Stoffle, Aidan F JR           2) r:0.08 Stoffle, Nathaniel FR 
     3) r:0.16 Tirheimer, Logan SO    4) r:0.11 Husband, Ryan SO      
    r:+0.61  20.44        43.36 (43.36)
        1:03.45 (20.09)     1:26.74 (43.38)
        1:46.68 (19.94)     2:09.18 (42.44)
        2:29.51 (20.33)     2:52.16 (42.98)
  8 Kentucky-KY  'A'              2:57.12    2:53.13         44  
     1) Berg, Max SO                  2) r:0.24 Wilby, Mason SR       
     3) r:0.31 Martin Roig, Victor FR 4) r:0.28 Clark, Jakob JR       
    r:+0.61  20.29        42.66 (42.66)
        1:03.07 (20.41)     1:26.03 (43.37)
        1:46.62 (20.59)     2:09.39 (43.36)
        2:30.33 (20.94)     2:53.13 (43.74)
  9 Missouri-MV  'A'              2:50.75    2:53.45         40  
     1) Dahlgren, Jack A SR           2) r:0.27 Hammer, Kevin JR      
     3) r:0.28 Bochenski, Grant       4) r:0.10 Kovac, Danny SR       
    r:+0.61  20.63        43.37 (43.37)
        1:03.60 (20.23)     1:26.77 (43.40)
        1:47.04 (20.27)     2:10.31 (43.54)
        2:30.33 (20.02)     2:53.45 (43.14)
 10 South Carolina-SC  'A'        2:55.35    2:53.78         34  
     1) Shperkin, Mark JR             2) r:0.22 Ross, AJ GR           
     3) r:0.33 Martin, Ethan FR       4) r:0.30 Costin, Phil SR       
    r:+0.62  20.55        43.23 (43.23)
        1:03.62 (20.39)     1:26.87 (43.64)
        1:47.60 (20.73)     2:10.67 (43.80)
        2:31.07 (20.40)     2:53.78 (43.11)
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