2023 SEC Championships, Night 5: Florida Sweeps Men’s and Women’s Titles

by Matthew De George - Senior Writer

18 February 2023, 05:00pm

2023 SEC Championships, Night 5: Florida Sweeps Men’s and Women’s Titles

It seemed that Florida Gators were on every step of the podium for most of the final night of the SEC Championships. It’s a demonstration of how deep and impressive the teams’ rosters are in becoming the first school to win the men’s and women’s titles at the same meet since 2008 when Auburn did it.

The men’s team claimed its 11th straight SEC championship with a score of 1,488.5 points. The score is the highest in league history, surpassing the 1,440 they accumulated in 2014. The Gators men’s team won three of five relays, including the 200 free, 400 medley and 800 free.

The conference’s most decorated women’s program, Florida is back on top for the first time since 2007. They scored 1,255 points, the seventh-highest score in conference history. The finished it with a silver medal in the 400 free relay, landing no worse than third in any of the relays and winning the 800 free.

Maggie MacNeil, who completed a triple by winning the 100 free and leading LSU to the 400 free relay title, won the SEC Commissioner’s Trophy as the meet’s top point-scorer on the women’s side. She was named the Female Swimmer of the Meet.

On the men’s side, Tennessee’s Jordan Crooks and Bryden Hattie and Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson shared the SEC Commissioner’s Trophy. Crooks is the first Volunteer to be named SEC Swimmer of the Meet. They’re the first Vols to win the award since diver Gabi Chereches in 2000. Hattie and South Carolina’s Brooke Schultz earned Diver of the Meet honors.

All the action from the final evening of competition:

2023 SEC Championships Links

• SEC Championships Central
• SEC Championships Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• SEC Swimming News
• Full Results
• SEC Championships, Night 1: Tennessee Men Set SEC Record; Maggie MacNeil Splits Best-Ever 22.52
• SEC Championships Prelims Day 2: Josh Liendo, Jordan Crooks Bring Heat in 50
• SEC Championships, Night 2: Maggie MacNeil 20.44 Leads LSU to 200 FR win
• SEC Championships, Day 3 Prelims: Jordan Crooks, Maggie MacNeil Flying Again
• SEC Championships, Night 3: Baylor Nelson Finishes IM Double
• SEC Championships, Day 4 Prelims: Adam Chaney Leads 100 Back with 44.64
• SEC Championships, Day 4: Rhyan White Finishes 100 Back 4-Peat
• SEC Championships, Day 5 Prelims: Rhyan White Misses A Final in 200 Back

2023 SEC Championships Team Scores

Women - Team Rankings - FINAL                    
 
  1. University of Florida            1255   2. University of Tennessee         950.5
  3. Kentucky, University of           946   4. University of Alabama              791
  5. Louisiana State University        775   6. Georgia, University of            756
  7. Auburn University                 688   8. South Carolina, University of,    587
  9. Texas A&M University            583.5  10. University of Arkansas            530
 11. Missouri                          418  12. Vanderbilt University             169

Men - Team Rankings - FINA                    
 
  1. University of Florida          1488.5   2. Auburn University              1089.5
  3. University of Tennessee        1035.5   4. Texas A&M University             1018
  5. Georgia, University of          828.5   6. Missouri                        725.5
  7. Universityof Alabama              667   8. Kentucky, University of           514
  9. South Carolina, University of,  458.5  10. Louisiana State University        337

Women’s 1,650 freestyle

Kensey McMahon won the 1,650 freestyle as a sophomore in 2020. It would take two years and two silver medals for her to win a mile at SECs that featured Kristen Stege. But she did so in dominant fashion Saturday night.

For the first 500 yards, it seemed like Stege was bound for a 1,650 three-peat. But McMahon had other plans. She worked the second 500 hard, taking the lead for good at the 1,100-yard mark and roaring away from there. Her margin of Stege would end up at nearly 6.5 seconds.

McMahon went 15:47.02, an NCAA A cut that dropped 12 seconds off her season-best time and the quickest time in the nation this year. The Alabama grad student has finished in the top seven in the mile all five times she’s contested at SECs, in second to Stege each of the last two years.

Stege faded late to land third overall, behind a teammate. In the last non-seeded heat, Tennessee’s Aly Breslin set a high bar by dropping 26 seconds to go 15:52.71. That got her on the podium with Stege. Abigail McColloh of Georgia was fourth, with Florida’s Hayden Miller fifth. Rachel Stege, the 500 free champ, finished sixth.

 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 15:03.31  11/18/2017Katie Ledecky, STAN
                 15:52.41  A
                 16:30.59  B
    Name           Year School               Seed     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
  1 McMahon, Kensey  SR Alabama-SE       15:59.10   15:47.02 A       32  
    r:+0.76  26.75        55.17 (28.42)
       14:49.75 (29.16)    15:18.87 (29.12)    15:47.02 (28.15)
  2 Breslin, Aly M   JR Tennessee-SE     16:18.86   15:52.71 B       28  
    r:+0.70  27.33        56.36 (29.03)
       14:55.43 (28.99)    15:24.44 (29.01)    15:52.71 (28.27)
  3 Stege, Kristen   SR Tennessee-SE     15:57.01   15:53.47 B       27  
    r:+0.80  26.01        53.70 (27.69)
       14:55.37 (29.59)    15:24.71 (29.34)    15:53.47 (28.76)
  4 McCulloh, Abiga  SO Georgia          15:57.08   15:58.45 B       26  
    r:+0.70  26.44        54.90 (28.46)
       15:00.78 (29.45)    15:30.18 (29.40)    15:58.45 (28.27)
  5 Miller, Hayden   FR Florida-FL       16:21.39   15:59.21 B       25  
    r:+0.88  27.07        55.81 (28.74)
       15:02.17 (28.75)    15:31.05 (28.88)    15:59.21 (28.16)
  6 Stege, Rachel G  SO Georgia          16:16.18   16:00.96 B       24  
    r:+0.72  25.77        53.95 (28.18)
       15:05.08 (29.27)    15:33.89 (28.81)    16:00.96 (27.07)
  7 Hetzer, Emily    SR Auburn-SE        16:10.38   16:03.46 B       23  
    r:+0.77  26.54        55.14 (28.60)
       15:05.24 (29.58)    15:34.83 (29.59)    16:03.46 (28.63)
  8 Mathieu, Tylor   SR Florida-FL       16:25.94   16:03.99 B       22  
    r:+0.77  27.70        57.49 (29.79)
       15:07.71 (28.94)    15:36.66 (28.95)    16:03.99 (27.33)

Men’s 1,650 freestyle

Even Levi Sandidge couldn’t quite believe it, as he jumped into the waiting arms of the Kentucky men’s team beyond the block Saturday night.

The Kentucky freshman became the first Wildcat man in 17 years to win an SEC swimming title, obliterating his best time by more than 18 seconds to go 14:31.47.

The freshman from Richardson, Texas, swam away from the field early and stayed away. He’d entered with a best college time of 14:51.24 and a lifetime best of 14:49.75. That’s an unbelievable drop for the freshman, who was 22nd in the 500 free.

“I had a thought in the back of my mind that there was a chance I would win this,” Sandidge said on the broadcast. “We’re still hoping to go to NCAAs. I did not expect to go a 14:31.”

Kentucky had only won six SEC men’s individual swimming titles ever (four by freestyler Roger Messick in 1955 and 1957; Steven Manley in the 200 free in 2006 and Daniel Cruz in the 200 fly in 2005; the Wildcats have also won five diving titles).

Georgia junior Jake Magahey was second for the third consecutive year in 14:38.45, though he was never a factor behind Sandidge. Tyler Watson of Florida slipped to third in the final 50 yards. Auburn’s Mason Mathias finished fourth. Florida added fifth (Eric Brown) and sixth (500 free champ Jake Mitchell, from the morning heat) to cinch the team title. The top seed entering the meet, Alabama’s Victor Johansson, settled for seventh.

 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 14:26.62  3/23/2001 Chris Thompson, MICH
                 14:37.31  A
                 15:26.19  B
    Name           Year School               Seed     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
  1 Sandidge, Levi   FR Kentucky         14:51.24   14:31.47 A       32  
    r:+0.68  24.03        50.29 (26.26)
       13:40.17 (26.49)    14:06.19 (26.02)    14:31.47 (25.28)
  2 Magahey, Jake M  JR Georgia          14:44.58   14:38.45 B       28  
    r:+0.69  24.68        51.38 (26.70)
       13:47.21 (26.60)    14:13.74 (26.53)    14:38.45 (24.71)
  3 Watson, Tyler J  SR Florida-FL       14:48.34   14:38.50 B       27  
    r:+0.74  24.15        50.20 (26.05)
       13:46.58 (26.97)    14:13.17 (26.59)    14:38.50 (25.33)
  4 Mathias, Mason   SO Auburn-SE        14:55.62   14:42.99 B       26  
    r:+0.61  24.10        50.68 (26.58)
       13:51.35 (26.73)    14:17.89 (26.54)    14:42.99 (25.10)
  5 Brown, Eric G    FR Florida-FL       14:56.86   14:44.06 B       25  
    r:+0.71  24.29        50.72 (26.43)
       13:52.13 (26.83)    14:18.57 (26.44)    14:44.06 (25.49)
  6 Mitchell, Jake   JR Florida-FL       15:04.50   14:46.91 B       24  
    r:+0.75  24.41        50.95 (26.54)
       13:54.16 (26.56)    14:20.86 (26.70)    14:46.91 (26.05)
  7 Johansson, Vict  SR Alabama-SE       14:39.63   14:47.51 B       23  
    r:+0.71  24.55        51.10 (26.55)
       13:54.87 (26.82)    14:21.85 (26.98)    14:47.51 (25.66)
  8 Davis, Grant M   SO Auburn-SE        15:02.25   14:51.37 B       22  
    r:+0.68  24.76        51.44 (26.68)
       13:58.73 (27.00)    14:25.51 (26.78)    14:51.37 (25.86)

Women’s 200 backstroke

LSU’s women’s team had won one SEC swimming championships in the first two decades of this millennium. This week in College Station, they’re up to two titles that don’t involve Maggie MacNeil and five total.

Ella Varga is the latest avatar of a blossoming program, the freshman from Canada completed a stellar pair of time drops Saturday to claim an SEC title in 1:51.74.

Varga entered the weekend as the 23rd seed in the event, with a seed time of 1:56.68. She dropped 4.3 seconds to earn the third seed out of prelims, then hacked another sixth tenths off to separate herself from a crowded field down the stretch. She joins MacNeil (50 free, 100 fly) and Jenna Bridges (200 fly) to go with the 200 free relay title.

Four swimmers turned for home with a chance to win. It looked for a moment like it might be another Kentucky freshman, with Lydia Hanlon in second behind teammate Caitlin Brooks. Both faded in the last 50, Brooks to third in 1:52.38, Hanlon to fifth in 1:52.83. Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller scored a silver medal in 1:52.21. The top seed out of prelims, Auburn’s Daisy Platts, finished fourth.

The story of the morning was Rhyan White falling short of her bid for a fourth straight title. She won the B final in 1:52.79, a time that would’ve been fifth in the A final.

 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 1:48.06  2/19/2022 Rhyan White, Alabama
         POOL: P 1:49.11  3/21/2009 Gemma Spofforth, UF
                 1:50.50  A
                 1:57.07  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Varga, Ella R       LSU-LA            1:52.39    1:51.74 B       32  
    r:+0.92  26.16        54.28 (28.12)
        1:23.30 (29.02)     1:51.74 (28.44)
  2 Fuller, Josephi  SO Tennessee-SE      1:52.54    1:52.21 B       28  
    r:+0.66  25.95        54.28 (28.33)
        1:23.26 (28.98)     1:52.21 (28.95)
  3 Brooks, Caitlin  SR Kentucky          1:52.84    1:52.38 B       27  
    r:+0.64  26.09        53.81 (27.72)
        1:22.75 (28.94)     1:52.38 (29.63)
  4 Platts, Daisy    SR Auburn-SE         1:51.63    1:52.62 B       26  
    r:+0.65  26.08        54.80 (28.72)
        1:24.17 (29.37)     1:52.62 (28.45)
  5 Hanlon, Lydia    FR Kentucky          1:52.22    1:52.83 B       25  
    r:+0.64  26.19        54.05 (27.86)
        1:22.84 (28.79)     1:52.83 (29.99)
  6 Frericks, Grace  FR Kentucky          1:52.78    1:53.97 B       24  
    r:+0.70  26.62        54.76 (28.14)
        1:24.10 (29.34)     1:53.97 (29.87)
  7 Weyant, Emma J   SO Florida-FL        1:53.72    1:54.06 B       23  
    r:+0.91  27.08        55.32 (28.24)
        1:24.62 (29.30)     1:54.06 (29.44)
  8 Zavaros, Mabel   JR Florida-FL        1:53.14    1:54.35 B       22  
    r:+0.55  26.98        55.69 (28.71)
        1:25.11 (29.42)     1:54.35 (29.24)

Men’s 200 backstroke

After finishing fourth each of the last two years, Bradley Dunham ascended to the top of the podium Saturday in the 200 back, delivered a composed swim to control the field in 1:39.27. He had been the top seed out of prelims and looked every bit of it, even with the swimmers massing behind him.

Second was Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson. The sophomore who won both individual medleys added silver in 1:39.79, .01 up on Missouri’s Jack Dahlgren. Aidan Stoffle was the first of the Stoffle brothers into the wall in fourth in 1:39.88; brother Nathaniel Stoffle was seventh. All times are NCAA B cuts.

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  2/23/2021 Shane Casas, Texas A&M
         POOL: P 1:36.62  11/20/2020Shaine Casas, Texas A&M
                 1:39.13  A
                 1:44.82  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Dunham, Bradley  SR Georgia           1:38.90    1:39.27 B       32  
    r:+0.77  23.35        48.01 (24.66)
        1:13.57 (25.56)     1:39.27 (25.70)
  2 Nelson, Baylor      Texas A&M-GU      1:40.15    1:39.79 B       28  
             23.87        49.16 (25.29)
        1:14.59 (25.43)     1:39.79 (25.20)
  3 Dahlgren, Jack   SR Missouri-MV       1:40.09    1:39.80 B       27  
    r:+0.69  23.38        48.53 (25.15)
        1:13.86 (25.33)     1:39.80 (25.94)
  4 Stoffle, Aidan   SR Auburn-SE         1:40.72    1:39.88 B       26  
    r:+0.70  23.45        48.39 (24.94)
        1:14.10 (25.71)     1:39.88 (25.78)
  5 Simons, Nick F   FR Tennessee-SE      1:40.99    1:40.05 B       25  
    r:+0.78  23.20        48.64 (25.44)
        1:14.59 (25.95)     1:40.05 (25.46)
  6 Gogulski, Ethan     Texas A&M-GU      1:40.81    1:40.59 B       24  
    r:+0.78  23.69        48.99 (25.30)
        1:14.56 (25.57)     1:40.59 (26.03)
  7 Stoffle, Nathan  SO Auburn-SE         1:40.35    1:40.75 B       23  
    r:+0.76  24.08        49.82 (25.74)
        1:15.26 (25.44)     1:40.75 (25.49)
  8 Grum, Ian        SR Georgia           1:40.56    1:40.96 B       22  
    r:+0.67  23.34        48.60 (25.26)
        1:14.51 (25.91)     1:40.96 (26.45)

Women’s 100 freestyle

Make it six titles for LSU, thanks to the aforementioned Maggie MacNeil. The Canadian blasted a A cut of 46.27 to dominate the field by more than a second. In the process, she took down the pool mark set in 2014 by Stanford’s Simone Manuel and likely solidified her grasp on Most Outstanding Swimmer honors.

Alabama’s Kalia Antoniou was the best of the rest in second in 47.46, her second straight silver medal. Florida took home three of the top six spots, led by Ekaterina Nikonova in third.

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 46.62  11/20/2014Simone Manuel, STAN
                 47.18  A
                 49.44  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 MacNeil, Maggie  GR LSU-LA              47.46      46.27PA       32  
    r:+0.67  10.65        22.12 (11.47)
          34.20 (12.08)       46.27 (12.07)
  2 Antoniou, Kalia  SR Alabama-SE          47.47      47.46 B       28  
    r:+0.67  10.87        22.76 (11.89)
          35.31 (12.55)       47.46 (12.15)
  3 Nikonova, Ekate  SO Florida-FL          48.38      47.97 B       27  
    r:+0.67  11.00        23.03 (12.03)
          35.66 (12.63)       47.97 (12.31)
  4 Cronk, Micayla   SO Florida-FL          48.36      47.99 B       26  
    r:+0.65  10.93        22.98 (12.05)
          35.41 (12.43)       47.99 (12.58)
  5 Stepanek, Chloe     Texas A&M-GU        47.96      48.20 B       25  
    r:+0.68  11.02        23.12 (12.10)
          35.75 (12.63)       48.20 (12.45)
  6 Bates, Talia B   SR Florida-FL          48.53      48.42 B       24  
    r:+0.70  10.89        23.24 (12.35)
          35.73 (12.49)       48.42 (12.69)
  7 Douthwright, Br     Tennessee-SE        48.08      48.65 B       23  
    r:+0.63  11.30        23.42 (12.12)
          36.09 (12.67)       48.65 (12.56)
  8 Mack, Katie G    SR Florida-FL          48.53      48.89 B       22  
    r:+0.67  11.05        23.27 (12.22)
          36.14 (12.87)       48.89 (12.75)

Men’s 100 freestyle

The men’s 100 free was all it was cracked up to be. Jordan Crooks went 41.19, .02 off his season-best, to win the race. Florida’s Josh Liendo was second in 41.24.

Liendo went out first in 19.64, up by a tenth, but Crooks turned .05 ahead at 75. The Caymanian also nailed the finish to just edge Liendo. Crooks is the first Tennessee swimmer to win the event since Ricky Busquets in 1996.

The top four are all NCAA A cuts. Gui Caribe of Tennessee was third in 41.55, ahead of Macguire McDuff of Florida in 41.59. Brooks Curry took fifth in 41.88; he had won the event last year.

With four A finalists, Florida pushes through to 1,299.5 points, running away with the title.

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 40.87  2/18/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
         POOL: P 40.87  2/18/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida-FL
                 41.64  A
                 43.59  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Crooks, Jordan   SO Tennessee-SE        41.44      41.19 A       32  
     r:+0.65  9.26        19.74 (10.48)
          30.58 (10.84)       41.19 (10.61)
  2 Liendo, Josh     FR Florida-FL          41.22      41.24 A       28  
     r:+0.62  9.29        19.64 (10.35)
          30.63 (10.99)       41.24 (10.61)
  3 Santos, Guilher     Tennessee-SE        41.59      41.55 A       27  
     r:+0.58  9.12        19.74 (10.62)
          30.72 (10.98)       41.55 (10.83)
  4 McDuff, Macguir  SO Florida-FL          42.03      41.59 A       26  
     r:+0.62  9.32        19.93 (10.61)
          30.71 (10.78)       41.59 (10.88)
  5 Curry, Brooks V  SR LSU-LA              42.20      41.88 B       25  
     r:+0.62  9.47        20.12 (10.65)
          31.14 (11.02)       41.88 (10.74)
  6 Berg, Max        JR Kentucky            42.26      42.11 B       24  
     r:+0.59  9.41        19.84 (10.43)
          30.88 (11.04)       42.11 (11.23)
  7 Smith, Julian    SO Florida-FL          41.98      42.30 B       23  
     r:+0.64  9.60        20.16 (10.56)
          31.33 (11.17)       42.30 (10.97)
  8 Chaney, Adam C   SO Florida-FL          42.26      42.82 B       22  
     r:+0.61  9.39        20.39 (11.00)
          31.59 (11.20)       42.82 (11.23)

Women’s 200 breaststroke

Tennessee’s Mona McSharry completed the breaststroke double, winning in 2:05.11 and leading a trio of A cuts. She was the only swimmer out in under a minute in 59.64 and worked her middle two 50s, leaving her plenty of breathing room for when Zoie Hartman and Avery Wiseman closed hard on her.

Hartman finished second, her 12th career top-two finish, in 2:05.48. Wiseman outsplit her coming home with a 32.27 but Hartman had just enough to get there first. Wiseman took bronze in 2:05.85. Reigning champ Gillian Davey of Kentucky was fourth.

Event 38  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 2:01.43  2/4/2023  Kate Douglass, Virginia
          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 2:04.62  2/18/2018 Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M
                 2:06.18  A
                 2:13.89  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 McSharry, Mona   JR Tennessee-SE      2:06.28    2:05.11 A       32  
    r:+0.66  28.18        59.64 (31.46)
        1:31.77 (32.13)     2:05.11 (33.34)
  2 Hartman, Zoie E  SR Georgia           2:07.78    2:05.48 A       28  
    r:+0.71  28.55      1:00.44 (31.89)
        1:32.76 (32.32)     2:05.48 (32.72)
  3 Wiseman, Avery   SO Alabama-SE        2:07.77    2:05.85 A       27  
    r:+0.69  29.12      1:01.37 (32.25)
        1:33.58 (32.21)     2:05.85 (32.27)
  4 Davey, Gillian   SR Kentucky          2:08.64    2:08.19 B       26  
    r:+0.70  29.29      1:01.91 (32.62)
        1:34.79 (32.88)     2:08.19 (33.40)
  5 Ferraguti, Ales  SR Arkansas-AR       2:09.51    2:09.27 B       25  
    r:+0.65  28.72      1:01.66 (32.94)
        1:35.16 (33.50)     2:09.27 (34.11)
  6 Wright, Cat G    SR Alabama-SE        2:08.10    2:09.31 B       24  
    r:+0.66  29.40      1:02.14 (32.74)
        1:35.27 (33.13)     2:09.31 (34.04)
  7 Fisher, Jocelyn  SR Alabama-SE        2:09.98    2:09.36 B       23  
    r:+0.69  28.82      1:01.32 (32.50)
        1:34.87 (33.55)     2:09.36 (34.49)
  8 Engel, Bridget   JR Kentucky          2:09.17    2:10.69 B       22  
    r:+0.66  28.55      1:01.46 (32.91)
        1:35.65 (34.19)     2:10.69 (35.04)

Men’s 200 breaststroke

Aleksas Savickas put on a clinic in the 200 breast, the capstone on Florida’s SEC title. The freshman went wire to wire, destroying Nic Fink’s SEC record by .72 seconds, held by Nic Fink since 2015. It’s also the meet record (Fink’s in 2015) and the A&M pool record.

The Lithuanian led a 1-2 with Dillon Hillis, both in A cuts. The fifth-year senior was distant in 1:51.14. Hillis set the program record in the morning at 1:51.53, then Savickas took it at night.

Tennessee’s Lyobmir Epitropov was third in 1:51.83 in an international final. The 2021 champion, set a UT record in 1:51.83. Andres Puente Busatamante of the hosts was fourth.

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 1:51.09  11/18/2022Alex Sanchez, Texas A&M
                 1:51.54  A
                 1:57.95  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Savickas, Aleks  FR Florida-FL        1:51.59    1:50.08SA       32  
    r:+0.67  24.71        52.44 (27.73)
        1:20.88 (28.44)     1:50.08 (29.20)
  2 Hillis, Dillon   5Y Florida-FL        1:51.53    1:51.14MA       28  
    r:+0.65  25.00        53.47 (28.47)
        1:22.21 (28.74)     1:51.14 (28.93)
  3 Epitropov, Lyub  5Y Tennessee-SE      1:53.41    1:51.83 B       27  
    r:+0.67  25.52        53.52 (28.00)
        1:22.33 (28.81)     1:51.83 (29.50)
  4 Puente, Andres      Texas A&M-GU      1:53.30    1:51.92 B       26  
    r:+0.66  25.10        53.56 (28.46)
        1:22.89 (29.33)     1:51.92 (29.03)
  5 Maas, Derek E    SR Alabama-SE        1:53.66    1:52.69 B       25  
    r:+0.65  25.45        54.29 (28.84)
        1:23.57 (29.28)     1:52.69 (29.12)
  6 Mikuta, Reid R   JR Auburn-SE         1:53.54    1:53.13 B       24  
    r:+0.65  25.43        53.73 (28.30)
        1:22.89 (29.16)     1:53.13 (30.24)
  7 Patton, Ben H    SR Missouri-MV       1:54.54    1:53.35 B       23  
    r:+0.63  24.95        53.97 (29.02)
        1:23.39 (29.42)     1:53.35 (29.96)
  8 Sanchez, Alex R     Texas A&M-GU      1:53.91    1:54.92 B       22  
    r:+0.64  25.97        54.91 (28.94)
        1:24.58 (29.67)     1:54.92 (30.34)

Men’s platform diving

Bryden Hattie led in the morning and at night in stellar fashion to reclaim his 2021 platform title with a score of 457.10. Its his third title overall, and the 3-meter champ has the inside line on men’s diver of the meet.

The junior was on top by nearly 90 points in prelims. He backed that up with a wire-to-wire win in finals. He was clear of South Carolina’s Manny Vazquez Bas, who jumped from third in prelims to the silver medal in 432.75. That improves his school record, set in January, by 22 points. Leonardo Garcia upped Florida’s total with 418.65 for bronze.

Auburn’s Walker Creedon (381.70) finished fourth, ahead of Texas A&M’s Rhett Hensley (373.00).

 Event 40  Men Platform Diving
=========================================================================
          SEC: S 507.15  3/7/2018  Zhipeng Zeng, Tennessee
     SEC Meet: M 496.55  2/18/2017 Hernandez & Henschel, LSU & Texas A&M
                 300.00  A
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Hattie, Bryden   JR Tennessee-SE       478.10     457.10 A       32  
  2 Vazquez Bas, Ma  SR South Carolina-S   391.15     432.75 A       28  
  3 Garcia, Leonard  SR Florida-FL         391.60     418.65 A       27  
  4 Creedon, Walker     Auburn-SE          380.15     381.70 A       26  
  5 Hensley, Rhett   SO Texas A&M-GU       379.20     373.00 A       25  
  6 Stone, Nick G    FR Tennessee-SE       360.70     351.80 A       24  
  7 Lopez, Carlo     SR Missouri-MV        375.95     315.95 A       23  
  8 Andrus, Whit M   SO Auburn-SE          340.85     252.40         22

Women’s 400 free relay

After 37 years without a relay crown, it’s two in the meet for LSU and three titles on the final night of competition. Maggie MacNeil’s monstrous split of 45.26 seconds opened up the decisive gap to help the team of Katarina Milutinovich, Michaela De Villiers and Megan Barnes go 3:10.57. It’s an NCAA A cut to get the win.

Barnes held off the furious charge by Florida’s Micayla Cronk, as the Gators finished second in 3:10.83. All four swimmers had been in the A final of the 100 free, and it sets a Florida program record.

Arkansas, swimming in the first of two heats, earned the bronze medal in 3:13.60. Like fourth-place Alabama and fifth-place Tennessee, it’s an A cut.

 Event 41  Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 3:06.91  3/19/2022 Virginia
                          K. Douglass, A. Walsh, R. Tiltman, G. Walsh
          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 3:09.88  3/21/2009 California, CAL
                          Wilson, Jensen, Dagg, Vollmer
                 3:14.10  A
                 3:16.32  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 LSU-LA  'A'                   3:13.93    3:10.57 A       64  
     1) Milutinovich, Katarina SR     2) r:0.24 MacNeil, Maggie GR    
     3) r:0.20 De Villiers, Miaela FR 4) r:0.14 Barnes, Megan FR      
    r:+0.62  23.26        48.59 (48.59)
        1:09.94 (21.35)     1:33.85 (45.26)
        1:56.70 (22.85)     2:22.59 (48.74)
        2:45.31 (22.72)     3:10.57 (47.98)
  2 Florida-FL  'A'               3:12.91    3:10.83 A       56  
     1) Nikonova, Ekaterina SO        2) r:0.20 Bates, Talia SR       
     3) r:0.34 Mack, Katie SR         4) r:0.22 Cronk, Micayla SO     
    r:+0.67  23.06        47.86 (47.86)
        1:10.55 (22.69)     1:35.88 (48.02)
        1:58.55 (22.67)     2:24.03 (48.15)
        2:46.11 (22.08)     3:10.83 (46.80)
  3 Arkansas-AR  'A'              3:16.49    3:13.60 A       54  
     1) Cothern, Bella JR             2) r:0.25 Melton, Kobie SR      
     3) r:0.25 Sansores, Andrea SR    4) r:0.25 Ferraguti, Alessia SR 
    r:+0.63  23.39        48.95 (48.95)
        1:11.51 (22.56)     1:36.56 (47.61)
        1:59.17 (22.61)     2:24.47 (47.91)
        2:47.85 (23.38)     3:13.60 (49.13)
  4 Alabama-SE  'A'               3:13.92    3:13.88 A       52  
     1) Antoniou, Kalia SR            2) r:0.35 Petkova, Diana JR     
     3) r:0.16 Jones, Emily FR        4) r:0.08 Winter, Kailyn SO     
    r:+0.68  22.97        47.81 (47.81)
        1:10.73 (22.92)     1:35.75 (47.94)
        1:58.92 (23.17)     2:24.86 (49.11)
        2:47.85 (22.99)     3:13.88 (49.02)
  5 Tennessee-SE  'A'             3:15.80    3:13.92 A       50  
     1) McSharry, Mona L JR           2) r:0.14 Douthwright, Brooklyn 
     3) r:0.18 Stotler, Sara SO       4) r:0.07 Mrozinski, Julia SO   
    r:+0.66  22.81        48.60 (48.60)
        1:11.63 (23.03)     1:36.79 (48.19)
        1:59.70 (22.91)     2:25.37 (48.58)
        2:48.31 (22.94)     3:13.92 (48.55)
  6 Georgia  'A'                  3:14.64    3:14.19 B       48  
     1) McCarty, Eboni SO             2) r:0.21 Reinstein, Sloane JR  
     3) r:0.19 Dickinson, Callie GS   4) r:0.36 Hartman, Zoie SR      
    r:+0.69  23.24        48.83 (48.83)
        1:11.53 (22.70)     1:37.49 (48.66)
        2:00.44 (22.95)     2:26.22 (48.73)
        2:49.30 (23.08)     3:14.19 (47.97)
  7 Texas A&M-GU  'A'             3:15.49    3:14.88 B       46  
     1) Buechler, Jordan N            2) r:0.34 Kennett, Bobbi        
     3) r:0.21 Theall, Olivia         4) r:0.31 Stepanek, Chloe       
    r:+0.73  23.93        49.50 (49.50)
        1:12.50 (23.00)     1:38.17 (48.67)
        2:01.45 (23.28)     2:27.37 (49.20)
        2:50.02 (22.65)     3:14.88 (47.51)
  8 Auburn-SE  'A'                3:15.88    3:15.22 B       44  
     1) Nevmovenko, Polina JR         2) r:0.27 Mulvihill, Lexie SO   
     3) r:0.09 Hamilton, Rebekah SO   4) r:0.22 Platts, Daisy SR      
    r:+0.68  23.41        48.65 (48.65)
        1:11.71 (23.06)     1:37.42 (48.77)
        2:00.53 (23.11)     2:26.51 (49.09)
        2:49.85 (23.34)     3:15.22 (48.71)

Men’s 400 free relay

Aleksey Tarasenko spoiled what would’ve been a dream ending for Florida, holding on to 1.0 of a 1.2 second bump on the anchor to give Tennessee the win. The team of Gui Caribe, Jordan Crooks, Bjoern Kammann and Tarasenko led the way in 2:46.25, a pool record. Florida was second in 2:46.42, Julian Smith nearly chasing it down on the end. Georgia was third.

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 2:46.67  3/28/2009 Auburn University, AUB
                          Andkjaer, Targett, Norys, McGill
                 2:50.52  A
                 2:52.44  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Tennessee-SE  'A'             2:47.27    2:46.25PA       64  
     1) Santos, Guilherme C           2) r:0.23 Crooks, Jordan SO     
     3) r:0.27 Kammann, Bjoern SO     4) r:0.15 Tarasenko, Aleksey 5Y 
    r:+0.58  19.61        41.43 (41.43)
        1:00.52 (19.09)     1:22.02 (40.59)
        1:41.72 (19.70)     2:04.08 (42.06)
        2:23.83 (19.75)     2:46.25 (42.17)
  2 Florida-FL  'A'               2:47.94    2:46.42PA       56  
     1) McDuff, Macguire V SO         2) r:0.12 Liendo, Josh FR       
     3) r:0.21 Chaney, Adam SO        4) r:0.23 Smith, Julian SO      
    r:+0.64  20.42        43.44 (43.44)
        1:02.53 (19.09)     1:24.18 (40.74)
        1:43.60 (19.42)     2:05.36 (41.18)
        2:24.79 (19.43)     2:46.42 (41.06)
  3 Georgia  'A'                  2:50.32    2:49.06 A       54  
     1) Branzell, Reese SO            2) r:0.21 Hils, Zach SR         
     3) r:0.18 Dunham, Bradley SR     4) r:0.27 Downing, Dillon SR    
    r:+0.65  20.47        42.65 (42.65)
        1:02.44 (19.79)     1:24.99 (42.34)
        1:44.90 (19.91)     2:07.14 (42.15)
        2:26.86 (19.72)     2:49.06 (41.92)
  4 Alabama-SE  'A'               2:49.91    2:49.64 A       52  
     1) Hawke, Charlie J SO           2) r:0.32 Alves, Kaique SO      
     3) r:0.14 Korstanje, Tim FR      4) r:0.24 Menke, Matthew SR     
    r:+0.68  20.29        42.35 (42.35)
        1:02.25 (19.90)     1:24.64 (42.29)
        1:44.66 (20.02)     2:07.20 (42.56)
        2:27.30 (20.10)     2:49.64 (42.44)
  5 Missouri-MV  'A'              2:52.27    2:50.29 A       50  
     1) Bochenski, Grant R SO         2) r:0.01 Dahlgren, Jack SR     
     3) r:0.14 Patton, Ben SR         4) r:0.29 Secchi, Clement SR    
    r:+0.61  20.37        43.00 (43.00)
        1:02.51 (19.51)     1:24.46 (41.46)
        1:44.25 (19.79)     2:07.29 (42.83)
        2:27.61 (20.32)     2:50.29 (43.00)
  6 Auburn-SE  'A'                2:50.02    2:50.75 B       48  
     1) Tirheimer, Logan B JR         2) r:0.36 Makinen, Kalle FR     
     3) r:0.28 Husband, Ryan JR       4) r:0.26 Stoffle, Aidan SR     
    r:+0.62  20.50        43.09 (43.09)
        1:03.21 (20.12)     1:25.71 (42.62)
        1:45.63 (19.92)     2:07.90 (42.19)
        2:28.21 (20.31)     2:50.75 (42.85)
  7 Texas A&M-GU  'A'             2:50.20    2:51.70 B       46  
     1) Foote, Connor R               2) r:0.23 Bratanov, Koko        
     3) r:0.15 Nelson, Baylor         4) r:0.18 Fuchs, Collin         
    r:+0.64  20.66        43.26 (43.26)
        1:03.38 (20.12)     1:26.07 (42.81)
        1:46.16 (20.09)     2:08.83 (42.76)
        2:29.12 (20.29)     2:51.70 (42.87)
  8 LSU-LA  'A'                   2:52.97    2:52.23 B       44  
     1) Garon, Andrew FR              2) r:0.32 Curry, Brooks SR      
     3) r:0.21 Curtis, Griffin SO     4) r:0.19 Cumby, Noah GR        
    r:+0.64  20.77        43.86 (43.86)
        1:03.08 (19.22)     1:25.46 (41.60)
        1:45.94 (20.48)     2:08.84 (43.38)
        2:29.36 (20.52)     2:52.23 (43.39)

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