Bama’s Kristian Gkolomeev Sizzles, Georgia Leads at SECs

11-01-14 MWSD vs. Auburn and LSU Kristian Gkolomeev Men 50 Yard Freestyle Photo by Kelly Price

Photo Courtesy: Kelly Price/Alabama Athletics

AUBURN – Alabama’s Greek God of Sprinting Kristian Gkolomeev dominated the sprint freestyle tonight, while the Georgia Bulldogs finished night two in the lead in both the men’s and women’s team races at the Southeastern Conference Championships.

Men’s Meet

Florida had a monster start to the night with a 1-2-7 finish in the men’s 500-yard freestyle event.

Mitch D’Arrigo just missed the SEC meet record of 4:10.73 set by teammate Dan Wallace a year ago as he clocked a 4:10.77 for the win tonight. Wallace, meanwhile, grabbed second-place honors in 4:13.67 with Arthur Frayler placing seventh for big points for Florida with a 4:17.48.

Alabama’s Anton McKee rounded out the top three in the 500 free for the men with a time of 4:14.98. The big surprise of the night in the event, however, came in the B final. Georgia’s Matias Koski ripped off a 4:12.01 for an NCAA A cut to take ninth overall, and would have earned second in the A final.

Georgia responded in the men’s 200-yard IM with a 1-4-6 finish. Ty Stewart captured the SEC title in 1:42.83 with 400 IM American record holder Chase Kalisz taking fourth in 1:43.44. Nic Fink wound up sixth in 1:43.60.

Florida’s Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (1:43.15) and Auburn’s Joe Patching (1:43.16) closed out the top three in the event.

This morning, Caeleb Dressel lowered his 17-18 U.S. National Age Group record in the 50-yard free with an 18.89 to qualifying second behind Alabama’s Kristian Gkolomeev (18.88). That swim cleared his previous national mark of 18.94 from 2013 U.S. Winter Nationals, where he became the youngest swimmer to break 19 seconds.

This evening, he just missed that time with a second-place 18.93 as Gkolomeev erupted with a stunning 18.64 that is faster than Nathan Adrian’s American record of 18.66 from 2011. Overall, that’s the fifth-fastest 50 free of all time by Gkolomeev.

Notably, Auburn’s Kyle Darmody clinched third in the finale with a time of 19.33, just ahead of Georgia’s Michael Trice (19.39).

Fastest 50 Frees

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Following the diving break, Gkolomeev did it again with a scorching 18.69 leadoff as Alabama topped the men’s 200-yard free relay.

Gkolomeev (18.69), Alex Gray (19.44), Luke Kaliszak (19.13) and Brett Walsh (18.87) powered their way to the title in 1:16.13. That’s Alabama’s first relay title at SECs since 1994.

It was a particularly satisfying win for Bama, considering it touched out intra-state rival Auburn. The Tigers’ Jacob Molacek (19.44), Michael Duderstadt (19.01), Arthur Mendes (19.12) and Kyle Darmody (18.60) finished second in 1:16.17.

Florida’s Corey Main (19.55), Caeleb Dressel (18.59), Pawel Werner (19.48) and Matt Curby (19.98) clinched third overall in 1:17.60.

Tennessee (1:17.76) and Georgia (1:17.96) also put up NCAA A cuts.

Team Scores

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Women’s Meet

Georgia took over the lead with a dominant women’s 500-yard freestyle as the Bulldogs are looking to defend their NCAA title next month.

Amber McDermott won by more than a second with a 4:35.19, while Brittany MacLean (4:41.62) and Rachel Zilinskas (4:42.84) took fourth and sixth in the A final for big points for the Dawgs. McDermott, however, was the only person to clear the NCAA A cut.

Florida’s Jessica Thielmann picked up second overall in 4:36.62 with Texas A&M’s Sarah Henry pocketing third overall in 4:38.10.

Florida responded to Georgia’s 500 free with a monster 1-2-3 finish in the women’s 200-yard IM. Theresa Michalak chased down the title in 1:56.09 with Lindsey McKnight (1:56.16) and Ashlee Linn (1:56.40) finishing just behind in second and third. That cut Georgia’s lead by about 20 points with UGA ahead 340-309 after the event.

Georgia bounced back in the women’s 50-yard free with a 1-2 effort from the Bulldogs. Chantal Van Landeghem topped the finale in 21.74 with teammate Madeline Locus tracking down second in 21.77. Texas A&M’s Beryl Gastaldello picked up third in 21.85 in a fast final three that cleared the NCAA A cut.

In the women’s one-meter diving break, LSU’s Alex Bettridge won the title with 350.50 points, while Kentucky’s Rebecca Hamperian placed second with 329.20 points. South Carolina’s Lauren Lamendola snagged third with 328.15 points.

Georgia closed out a strong night two with another victory, this time in the women’s 200-yard free relay.

Madeline Locus (21.99), Chantal Van Landeghem (21.35), Olivia Smoliga (22.04) and Lauren Harrington (22.17) took the title in 1:27.55.

Auburn followed as Megan Fonteno (22.42), Allyx Purcell (21.65), Ashton Ellzey (22.23) and Valerie Hull (21.76) finished second in 1:28.05.

Tennessee closed out the top three as Faith Johnson (22.12), Harper Bruens (21.64), Amy Lubawy (22.06) and Cherelle Thompson (23.10) turned in a third-place time of 1:28.92.

Texas A&M (1:29.01), Alabama (1:29.03) and Florida (1:29.43) also clocked NCAA A cuts.

Team Scores

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2015 SEC Swimming Championships, Day Two – Results

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Bill Bell

9 years ago

Molacek’s that’s hotshot freshman breaststroker from Creighton (Ndbraska) who set national,high- school record last yearning 100 breast.

MaybeBrett Hawke does know a thing or three about developing good swimmers.

FitnessTime-D

9 years ago

NICE! 😀

Bill Bell

9 years ago

Upon learning of Gkolomeev and Dressel’s great times — and also learning that BOTH were unshaved, unrested, untapered and in the case of the former wearing pull buoys, floats, two dragsuits and 5000-pound weights on his wrists/ankles — Cesar Cielo and Florent Manadou have announced their immediate retirement and George Bovell says he’s “going back to the 200 fly-400 IM.”

No word yet from Brad Tandy.

Gkolomeev’s time is second-fastest ever @. a college championships.

Record is 18.52 by Auburn’s Matt Targett @. this same meet/pool in 2K9. He split 9.10 going out to Gkolomeev’s 9.03. The “kicker” of course is that Targett wor e a suit no longer legit. The fastest time under current suit regulations that went into effect 01/01/10 is USC’s Vladimir Morozov’s 18.63 @. NCAAs in Indy two years ago — the Pac-12 record.