SEC Championships: Connor Oslin Breaks SEC Record in Day 4 Finals

connor-oslin-
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The Florida men and Texas A&M women continue to lead in the team races heading into the final day of competition at the SEC championships in Knoxville, Tenn., but Alabama senior Connor Oslin stole the show Friday night with a new conference record in the men’s 100 back.

Also on night four, U.S. Olympian Olivia Smoliga won the 100 back for Georgia, and Florida’s Caeleb Dressel took advantage of a restful day to anchor the Gators’ 400 medley relay to victory in a blazing 40.43 split.

The Florida men have scored 929.5 points, well ahead of second-place Georgia with 788. Auburn (663.5), Alabama (614) and Texas A&M (549) round out the top five. On the women’s side, the Aggies have 961 points, followed by Georgia (843), Tennessee (673), Kentucky (659) and Auburn (648).

Women’s 200 fly

Georgia’s Chelsea Britt led almost the entire race in the 200 fly final, but Texas A&M’s Sarah Gibson came from behind on the last 50 to pull ahead. Gibson split 29.19 on the way home, to Britt’s 29.98, and that was enough to get her hand on the wall eight one-hundredths ahead, 1:52.64 to 1:52.72. Only Ella Eastin (1:52.62) has swum quicker so far this season.

The win was Gibson’s second of the meet after already taking first in the 100 fly Thursday night with a time of 50.71.

Georgia’s Megan Kingsley was in third place for the entire race and ended up finishing in 1:54.80. She was followed by LSU’s Kara Kopcso, who came in at 1:55.66 for fourth.

Also swimming in the championship final were Missouri’s Sharli Brady (1:56.65), Tennessee’s Michelle Cefal (1:56.87), Auburn’s Bailey Nero (1:57.31) and Florida’s Alyssa Yambor-Maul (1:57.89).

  1 Gibson, Sarah E  SR Texas A&M-GU      1:54.43    1:52.64PA       32  
             25.50        54.40 (28.90)
        1:23.45 (29.05)     1:52.64 (29.19)
  2 Britt, Chlesea   JR Georgia-GA        1:53.90    1:52.72PA       28  
             25.02        53.91 (28.89)
        1:22.74 (28.83)     1:52.72 (29.98)
  3 Kingsley, Megan  JR Georgia-GA        1:54.94    1:54.80 B       27  
             25.61        54.63 (29.02)
        1:24.42 (29.79)     1:54.80 (30.38)

Men’s 200 fly

Georgia teammates Chase Kalisz and Pace Clark went head-to-head (although three lanes apart) for the first six lengths of the 200 fly final—until Florida’s Jan Switkowski decided to crash the party. The trio was almost dead even coming into the wall, but Clark got his hand on the wall first in 1:40.87.

Just seven one-hundredths back was Switkowski in 1:40.94, and Kalisz finished third in 1:41.03. Another Florida Gator, Mark Szaranek, finished back in fourth place at 1:42.34.

Georgia got some big points in the event as, in addition to Clark and Kalisz finishing in the top three, Gunnar Bentz finished fifth in 1:43.05, and Mick Litherland took seventh in 1:43.36. Sixth went to South Carolina’s Fynn Minuth (1:43.33), and Auburn’s Hugo Morris faded to eighth in 1:44.07.

  1 Clark, Pace T    SR Georgia-GA        1:43.52    1:40.87PA       32  
             22.57        48.43 (25.86)
        1:14.47 (26.04)     1:40.87 (26.40)
  2 Switkowski, Jan  JR Florida-FL        1:43.04    1:40.94PA       28  
             22.93        48.49 (25.56)
        1:14.75 (26.26)     1:40.94 (26.19)
  3 Kalisz, Chase T  SR Georgia-GA        1:42.37    1:41.03 A       27  
             22.66        48.40 (25.74)
        1:14.44 (26.04)     1:41.03 (26.59)

Women’s 100 back

Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga had the lead at the halfway point, but she faced a tough challenge from Texas A&M’s Hannah Stevens, who took over the lead on the third 25. But Smoliga battled back and came into the wall in 50.60, two tenths ahead of Stevens, who came in at 50.82. Those two times rank as first and second in the nation this season, respectively.

Kentucky freshman Asia Seidt continued her impressive meet with a third-place finish, touching in 51.40. Tennessee’s Kira Toussaint finished fourth in 51.69, and Missouri’s Nadin Laemmler also broke 52 with her fifth-place time of 51.96.

Kentucky’s Danielle Galyer, the reigning NCAA champion in the 200 back, finished sixth in 52.53, and Florida’s Emma Ball touched seventh in 52.65. Georgia’s Chelsea Britt, competing less than a half hour after finishing second in the 200 fly, ended up eighth in 53.02.

  1 Smoliga, Olivia  SR Georgia-GA          51.10      50.60PA       32  
             12.02        24.70 (12.68)
          37.90 (13.20)       50.60 (12.70)
  2 Stevens, Hannah  JR Missouri-MV         51.13      50.82PA       28  
             12.08        24.78 (12.70)
          37.74 (12.96)       50.82 (13.08)
  3 Seidt, Asia M    FR Kentucky-KY         51.66      51.40 A       27  
             12.37        25.17 (12.80)
          38.30 (13.13)       51.40 (13.10)

Men’s 100 back

Alabama’s Connor Oslin pulled away from teammate Luke Kaliszak down the stretch and touched the wall to win the 100 back in 44.73. Oslin’s time moved him to second in the country this season behind Ryan Murphy (44.61) and sixth all-time in the event. The time was also a new SEC meet record, breaking Ryan Lochte’s previous mark of 45.19, and the finish gave Oslin his third-straight conference title in the event.

Kaliszak finished second in 45.03, the third-fastest time in the country this season, and Georgia’s Taylor Dale posted a quick 45.48 for third place. Alabama’s huge point haul in this event also included a fourth-place finish from Christopher Reid, who finished in 46.17.

Texas A&M’s Brock Bonetti finished fifth in 46.21, while Missouri’s Daniel Hein (46.60) and LSU teammates Logan Rysemus (46.69) and Karl Luht (46.78) rounded out the final.

  1 Oslin, Connor J  SR Alabama-SE          45.29      44.73SA       32  
             10.43        21.48 (11.05)
          33.11 (11.63)       44.73 (11.62)
  2 Kaliszak, Luke   JR Alabama-SE          45.64      45.03SA       28  
             10.25        21.34 (11.09)
          33.12 (11.78)       45.03 (11.91)
  3 Dale, Taylor L   SR Georgia-GA          45.67      45.48 B       27  
             10.45        21.59 (11.14)
          33.28 (11.69)       45.48 (12.20)

Women’s 100 breast

Texas A&M’s Jorie Caneta pulled ahead of the field on the third 25 and then held off a late charge from Kentucky freshman Madison Winstead to win her first individual conference championship. Caneta touched in 59.49, while Winstead took second in 59.86, and Alabama’s Bridget Blood finished just behind in third with a time of 59.95.

The Aggies extended their lead in the team race as they picked up fourth-place points from Ashley McGregor (1:00.13) and sixth-place points from Franko Jonker (1:00.28). Heading into platform diving, the Aggies’ lead over Georgia was 88 points, 870 to 782.

Finishing fifth was Auburn’s Colleen O’Neil (1:00.18), and Tennessee’s Colleen Callahan (1:00.47) and Auburn’s Natasha Lloyd (1:00.48) finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

  1 Caneta, Jorie A  JR Texas A&M-GU        59.78      59.49 B       32  
             12.85        28.10 (15.25)
          43.53 (15.43)       59.49 (15.96)
  2 Winstead, Madis  FR Kentucky-KY       1:00.09      59.86 B       28  
             13.00        28.20 (15.20)
          43.97 (15.77)       59.86 (15.89)
  3 Blood, Bridget   SR Alabama-SE          59.83      59.95 B       27  
             13.01        28.17 (15.16)
          43.89 (15.72)       59.95 (16.06)

Men’s 100 breast

Auburn’s Michael Duderstadt won his second consecutive SEC championship in the men’s 100 breast, finishing in a quick time of 51.50, good for the second-fastest time in the nation this season. Duderstadt held off a quick charge from South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen, who finished in 51.79 after posting a 51.56 this morning in prelims. That 51.56 now ranks third in the country this season.

There was a tie for third as Fabien Schwingenschlogl and Anton McKee both touched in 52.28. Schwingenschlogl, the reigning NCAA champion in the event, actually has the top time in the country after swimming a 51.07 earlier in the year.

Missouri’s Michael Chadwick took a break from his typical sprint freestyles and finished fifth in the 100 breast in a time of 52.41, just ahead of Tennessee’s Peter Stevens (52.56). Florida’s Chandler Bray finished seventh in 52.71, and eighth went to Alabama’s Pavel Romanov in 52.93.

  1 Duderstadt, Mic  SR Auburn-SE           52.46      51.50 A       32  
             10.81        23.94 (13.13)
          37.57 (13.63)       51.50 (13.93)
  2 Wich-Glasen, Ni  JR South Carolina-S    51.58      51.79 A       28  
             10.92        24.09 (13.17)
          37.74 (13.65)       51.79 (14.05)
  3 Schwingenschloe  SR Missouri-MV         52.08      52.28 B       26.5
             11.13        24.23 (13.10)
          38.14 (13.91)       52.28 (14.14)
  3 McKee, Anton S   SR Alabama-SE          52.33      52.28 B       26.5
             10.91        24.26 (13.35)
          37.91 (13.65)       52.28 (14.37)

Women’s platform diving

South Carolina’s Allyson Nied edged out Tennessee’s Rachel Rubadue for the title on the platform. Nied scored 325.90 points, ahead of Rubadue’s 315.20. Finishing in third was Texas A&M’s Alais Kalonji with 291.25 points.

Alabama’s Kara Fredlock (279.65), Kentucky’s Rebecca Hamperian (274.05), Florida’s Teya Syskakis (264.55), Tennessee’s Emily Pelletier (259.90) and Auburn’s Allison Maillard (244.20) also qualified for the final.

Women’s 400 medley relay

Olivia Smoliga gave Georgia a lead with her 51.04 backstroke leg, but Texas A&M’s Jorie Caneto and Sarah Gibson pulled the Aggies into the lead, and Beryl Gastadello held off Chantal Van Landeghem at the finish. Lisa Bratton (51.96), Caneta (59.40), Gibson (51.05) and Gastadello (47.40) finished in 3:29.81, while Georgia’s Smoliga, Emily Cameron (1:00.51), Chelsea Britt (51.44) and Van Landeghem (47.12) touched three tenths back in 3:30.11.

Tennessee finished third in the event with Meghan SmallColleen CallahanMaddy Banic and Kira Toussaint combining to finish in 3:31.99. Kentucky’s Danielle GalyerMadison WinsteadAsia Seidt and Geena Freriks was just behind in fourth, touching in 3:32.30.

Auburn finished fourth in 3:34.72, followed by LSU (3:35.20), Missouri (3:35.41) and South Carolina (3:36.72).

  1 Texas A&M-GU  'A'             3:32.89    3:29.81PA       64  
     1) Bratton, Lisa N JR            2) r:NRT Caneta, Jorie JR       
     3) r:NRT Gibson, Sarah SR        4) r:NRT Gastaldello, Beryl JR  
             25.54        51.96 (51.96)
        1:19.60 (27.64)     1:51.36 (59.40)
        2:15.08 (23.72)     2:42.41 (51.05)
        3:04.80 (22.39)     3:29.81 (47.40)
  2 Georgia-GA  'A'               3:30.34    3:30.11 A       56  
     1) Smoliga, Olivia M SR          2) r:NRT Cameron, Emily SR      
     3) r:NRT Britt, Chlesea JR       4) r:NRT Van Landeghem, Cntal SR
             24.84        51.04 (51.04)
        1:18.99 (27.95)   1:51.55 (1:00.51)
        2:14.77 (23.22)     2:42.99 (51.44)
        3:05.53 (22.54)     3:30.11 (47.12)
  3 Tennessee-SE  'A'             3:35.04    3:31.99 A       54  
     1) Small, Meghan N FR            2) r:NRT Callahan, Colleen SR   
     3) r:NRT Banic, Madeline SO      4) r:NRT Toussaint, Kira SR     
             25.29        51.84 (51.84)
        1:20.03 (28.19)   1:51.87 (1:00.03)
        2:15.22 (23.35)     2:43.57 (51.70)
        3:06.39 (22.82)     3:31.99 (48.42)

Men’s 400 medley relay

Missouri led through the 300-yard mark in the top heat of medley relays, and Florida was in fifth place. All that changed when Caeleb Dressel went into the water. Dressel split 40.43 to bring the Gators home in 3:04.52. Bayley Main (46.69), Chandler Bray (52.27) and Jan Switkowski (45.13) also swam for the Gators.

Missouri’s Daniel Hein (46.68), Fabien Schwingenschlogl (51.30) and Andrew Sansoucie (45.55) gave way to Michael Chadwick, who came home in a blazing 41.13 and just missed nipping Dressel at the end, finishing in 3:04.66.

Auburn’s Joe PatchingMichael DuderstadtLuis Martinez and Peter Holoda clipped in-state rival Alabama (Connor OslinAnton McKeeLuke Kaliszak and Zane Waddell), 3:05.34 to 3:05.45.

Georgia (3:06.76), Texas A&M (3:07.85), Tennessee (3:07.99) and LSU (3:08.00) all finished in the top eight.

  1 Florida-FL  'A'               3:10.48    3:04.52PA       64  
     1) Main, Bayley H SO             2) r:NRT Bray, Chandler FR      
     3) r:NRT Switkowski, Jan JR      4) r:NRT Dressel, Caeleb JR     
             22.47        46.69 (46.69)
        1:10.77 (24.08)     1:38.96 (52.27)
        1:59.71 (20.75)     2:24.09 (45.13)
        2:43.00 (18.91)     3:04.52 (40.43)
  2 Missouri-MV  'A'              3:05.67    3:04.66PA       56  
     1) Hein, Daniel W FR             2) r:NRT Schwingenschloegbian SR
     3) r:NRT Sansoucie, Andrew SR    4) r:NRT Chadwick, Michael SR   
             22.36        46.68 (46.68)
        1:10.17 (23.49)     1:37.98 (51.30)
        1:58.75 (20.77)     2:23.53 (45.55)
        2:43.12 (19.59)     3:04.66 (41.13)
  3 Auburn-SE  'A'                3:08.73    3:05.34PA       54  
     1) Patching, Joe J SR            2) r:NRT Duderstadt, Michael SR 
     3) r:NRT Martinez, Luis JR       4) r:NRT Holoda, Peter JR       
             22.22        46.49 (46.49)
        1:10.22 (23.73)     1:38.27 (51.78)
        1:59.28 (21.01)     2:24.06 (45.79)
        2:43.46 (19.40)     3:05.34 (41.28)

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Frank Armstrong
7 years ago

AMAZING swim !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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