2017 SEC Championships: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2017 SEC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Tuesday, February 14 – Saturday, February 18
  • Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Knoxville, TN (Eastern Time Zone)
  • Prelims 10AM / Finals 6PM
  • Defending Champion: Florida men (4x), Texas A&M women (results)
  • Championship Central
  • Psych Sheet
  • Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet
  • Live results
  • Live Video

The 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee will continue this morning with the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, and men’s 3-meter diving prelims. U.S. Olympians Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland will headline the 400 IM this morning. The men’s 100 fly will feature a showdown between Florida’s Caeleb Dressel and Missouri’s Andrew Sansoucie, who are currently tied with the fastest time in the nation this season, while the women’s version of that race will feature Texas A&M’s 500 free champ Sarah Gibson. In the 200 free, Florida freshman Maxime Rooney will get a chance to put up some fast individual times after his fast 1:31 split on the 800 free relay earlier in the meet.

WOMEN’S 400 IM

  1. Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M, 4:05.98
  2. Emma Barksdale, South Carolina, 4:08.28
  3. Bethany Galat, Texas A&M, 4:08.33
  4. Meghan Small, Tennessee, 4:08.42
  5. Emily Cameron, Georgia, 4:08.65
  6. Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo, Texas A&M, 4:08.72
  7. Sharli Brady, Missouri, 4:08.80
  8. Mia Nonnenberg, Alabama, 4:08.85

A close field in the 400 IM prelims saw 8 women swim in the 4:08-range. The only swimmer to go faster than that was Texas A&M’s Sydney Pickrem, who took top seed for finals in 4:05.98. That sets up an IM rematch between Pickrem and Tennessee’s Meghan Small, who qualified 4th, after they went 1-2 in the 200 IM last night.

Georgia’s Rachel Zilinskas came up with a 4:08.98 this morning, but just missed out on the final. The 2nd through 8th seeds were separated by just 7 tenths, with Alabama’s Mia Nonnenberg rounding out the top 8.

MEN’S 400 IM

  1. Chase Kalisz, Georgia, 3:40.93
  2. Mark Szaranek, Florida, 3:42.42
  3. Jay Litherland, Georgia, 3:42.63
  4. Tom Peribonio, South Carolina, 3:45.12
  5. Joe Patching, Auburn, 3:45.36
  6. Gunnar Bentz, Georgia, 3:45.79
  7. Sam McHugh, Tennessee, 3:45.86
  8. Alex Lebed, Florida, 3:46.44

American Record holder Chase Kalisz cruised to the top spot in the 400 IM prelims with a 3:40.93. Kalisz is one of Georgia’s 3 U.S. Olympians in tonight’s final, as he’ll be joined by defending champion Jay Litherland and teammate Gunnar Bentz. Defending silver medalist Mark Szaranek will look for redemption after coming up just short to Kalisz in last night’s 200 IM final. Szaranek qualified 2nd this morning in 3:42.42.

Auburn’s 2016 bronze medalist Joe Patching will also be in the mix after taking 5th seed this morning behind South Carolina school record holder Tom Peribonio.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY

  1. Sarah Gibson, Texas A&M, 50.93
  2. Chelsea Britt, Georgia, 51.47
  3. Haley Black, Auburn, 52.09
  4. Maddy Banic, Tennessee, 52.20
  5. Kylie Stewart, Georgia, 52.29
  6. Beryl Gastaldello, Texas A&M, 52.32
  7. Kara Kopcso, LSU, 52.34
  8. Bailey Nero, Auburn, 52.39

Texas A&M’s Sarah Gibson rocked a 50.93 to take top seed in the 100 fly, coming within a few tenths of her personal best 50.61 from 2016 NCAAs. She was also within hundredths of teammate Beryl Gastaldello‘s SEC Meet Record from 2015. Gastaldello will also be racing in tonight’s finals after qualifying 6th. There to challenge for Georgia will be transfer Chelsea Britt, who touched 2nd in a quick 51.47, and Kylie Stewart.

Tennessee’s 50 free champ Maddy Banic will make her 2nd finals appearance, taking 4th behind Auburn’s Haley Black. The Tigers will also have 2 in the field, as Bailey Nero placed 8th behind LSU’s Kara Kopcso.

MEN’S 100 FLY

  1. Caeleb Dressel, Florida, 44.87
  2. Andrew Sansoucie, Missouri, 45.97
  3. Luis Martinez, Auburn, 46.02
  4. Logan Rysemus, LSU, 46.10
  5. Luke Kaliszak, Alabama, 46.15
  6. Connor Oslin, Alabama, 46.16
  7. Jan Switkowski, Florida, 46.22
  8. Ryan Coetzee, Tennessee, 46.23

Florida’s defending champ Caeleb Dressel looked smooth on the way to a 44.87 this morning, just missing his season best time by a hundredth. Dressel and Missouri’s Andrew Sansoucie are currently tied with the fastest time in the nation this season. Sansoucie will be right next to him tonight after taking 2nd over Auburn’s Luis Martinez (46.02).

A trio of men touched in the 46.1-range this morning, led by LSU’s Logan Rysemus. Alabama teammates Luke Kaliszak and Connor Oslin were just a hundredth apart to take 5th and 6th, followed by Florida’s Jan Switkowski and Tennessee’s Ryan Coetzee with a pair of 46.2s.

Georgia’s Taylor Dale just missed the final with a 46.25 for 9th, as did teammate Pace Clark, who was 10th in 46.43.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE

  1. Geena Freriks, Kentucky, 1:45.29
  2. Claire Rasmus, Texas A&M, 1:45.40
  3. Meaghan Raab, Georgia, 1:45.75
  4. Erin Falconer, Auburn, 1:45.90
  5. Meryn McCann, Georgia, 1:46.35
  6. Kristin Malone, Texas A&M, 1:46.44
  7. Ali Galyer, Kentucky, 1:46.70
  8. Kendal Casey, Kentucky, 1:46.83

The Kentucky women continue to impress with one of the strongest teams they’ve had in program history. Geena Freriks qualified as the top seed for finals, while teammates Ali Galyer and Kendal Casey touched with the 7th and 8th fastest times to give the Wildcats 3 in the championship heat.

Georgia’s Meaghan Raab, the runner-up in this race last season, will be chasing the title tonight after taking 3rd seed behind Texas A&M’s Claire Rasmus. Auburn’s Erin Falconer was the 4th fastest through prelims and the last swimmer to swim sub-1:46 this morning.

Florida’s Amelia Maughan, the 2015 SEC champion in this race, just missed the final with a 1:46.85 for 9th place, just .02 behind Casey.

MEN’S 200 FREE

  1. Maxime Rooney, Florida, 1:33.05
  2. Fynn Minuth, South Carolina, 1:34.22
  3. Khader Baqlah, Florida, 1:34.47
  4. Laurent Bams, Alabama, 1:34.56
  5. Mitch D’Arrigo, Florida, 1:34.62
  6. Walker Higgins, Georgia, 1:34.81
  7. Joey Reilman, Tennessee, 1:34.82
  8. Mikel Schreuders, Missouri, 1:34.99

Florida’s Maxime Rooney is the man to beat after his dominant showing in the 200 free prelims. Rooney shaved over a half second off his best time this morning, touching in 1:33.05 to earn his place in lane 4 tonight. Teammate Khader Baqlah and South Carolina’s Fynn Minuth are also title threats. Baqlah put up a 1:33.86 leadoff split on Florida’s 800 free relay earlier in the meet, while Minuth has shown incredible improvement and won gold in last night’s 500 free.

Florida’s Mitch D’Arrigo and Georgia’s Walker Higgins will also be making their 2nd championship final appearance after swimming in last night’s 500 free final.

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Kurt Rambis
7 years ago

Dressel, Josa, and Sansoucie are gonna have a hard battle for 3rd at NCs.

E Gamble
Reply to  Kurt Rambis
7 years ago

Caeleb Dressel always swims for first place even if it’s his third or fourth best stroke. He’s swimming to win. ☺

Huge Rowdy Gaines Fan
Reply to  Kurt Rambis
7 years ago

Nah

Uberfan
7 years ago

Bentz made the Olympic team in the 200 free relay but didn’t swim it

completelyconquered
Reply to  Uberfan
7 years ago

How many in the final of the 200 free here can go 1:47.33 LCM 200 free?

E Gamble
Reply to  completelyconquered
7 years ago

You do know that the number one seed in tonight’s 200 free final is Maxime Rooney the 200 free LCM Junior World Record holder with a time of 1:47.10 ?

X swimmer
Reply to  E Gamble
7 years ago

So only one other

X swimmer
Reply to  X swimmer
7 years ago

And by the way, Thorpe should hold the world junior record considering he went 1:44.0 at 17 not Rooney

Aquajosh
Reply to  X swimmer
7 years ago

Two others, actually. D’Arrigo’s best time is 1:47.14.

completelyconquered
Reply to  E Gamble
7 years ago

What did Rooney go at Trials?

Lauren Neidigh
Reply to  Uberfan
7 years ago

I think he swam in prelims of the 800 free relay. There are rules that won’t allow teams to bring a swimmer for a relay and have them not swim at all.

Uberfan
7 years ago

1:34 for Higgins wowza should have put him on the 4×200

Track
7 years ago

Rooney swam 1:31.54 on the relay, so he may be capable of great things tonight and at NCAAs

Like the Underdog
7 years ago

Chaddy’s 3rd event is the 100 Breast.

CACRUSHERS
7 years ago

No Chadwick in the 200. Anyone know what his third event will be after the 50/100?

Admin
Reply to  CACRUSHERS
7 years ago

CACRUSHERS – 100 breaststroke.

SC Fan
7 years ago

whats wrong with akarem mahmoud ?

Not getting touched out this time!!
Reply to  SC Fan
7 years ago

NCAAs is the big picture

Another Swim Nerd
Reply to  SC Fan
7 years ago

Probably unrested, if I had to hazard a guess.

russ
Reply to  SC Fan
7 years ago

Rumor has it he still has nightmares of Chris Swanson running him down

Parka 59
7 years ago

ALERT: Mitch’s parka has been found! With the warmth that Mitch will now have, he should be blazing fast tonight. Not having his parka over the past two days has really taken a toll on his body and mind. Thank the parka gods and may it never get stolen again.

Taa
Reply to  Parka 59
7 years ago

Buy Mitch a Tile Mate Tracking device and sew it into his parka for NCAAs

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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