2025 SEC Championships: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2025 SEC Championships

• Dates: Tuesday, February 18–Saturday, February 22
  • Prelims: 9:30 am EST/ Finals 5:30 pm EST (Tuesday-5:00 EST)
• Location: Gabrielsen Natatorium — Athens, GA
• Defending Champions: Florida women (2x); Florida men (12x)
• Live Results
• Live Video: SEC Network+
• Championship Central
• Fan Guide (Men)
• Fan Guide (Women)
• Psych Sheets
• Teams: Alabama, Arkansas (women), Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas*, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt (women)
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Day 4 Prelims Heat Sheet

The fourth day of the SEC Swimming & Diving Championships kicks off this morning with the second preliminary session from Athens, with the 400 IM, 100 fly and 200 free on tap for Thursday.

One key absence this morning will be Florida sophomore Bella Sims, who threw down a 1:39.55 split on Tuesday night in the women’s 800 free relay but has opted out of the 200 free (and all of her other events she was entered in for the day).

• Full Scratch Report

The Florida women won all three of these events last year, with Emma Weyant (400 IM) and Olivia Peoples (100 fly) returning to defend their titles, while Isabel Ivey‘s graduation opens the door in the 200 free.

On the men’s side, Florida’s Josh Liendo comes in as the two-time defending champion in the 100 fly, while Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson will defend his title in the 400 IM.

The 200 free won’t have last year’s winner, Macguire McDuff, in the field, but will feature Texas’ Luke Hobson, the reigning NCAA champion and U.S. Open Record holder.

Hobson will face a stacked field, however, with Jordan Crooks, fresh off a pair of sub-18 50 free swims earlier in the meet, entered in the 200 free, as is Georgia’s Tomas Koski, who split 1:29 on the 800 free relay on Tuesday.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• SEC Record: 3:58.23 – Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M (2019)
• SEC Championship Record: 3:58.35 – Elizabeth Beisel, Florida (2012)
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:03.62

‘A’ Final Qualifiers:

1. Emma Weyant (FLOR), 4:03.34
2. Ella Jansen (TENN), 4:04.45
3. Mabel Zavaros (FLOR), 4:06.30
4. Campbell Stoll (TEX), 4:06.67
5. Julie Brousseau (FLOR) / Emily Brown (TENN), 4:07.66
6. –
7. Sofia Plaza (FLOR), 4:08.14
8. Campbell Chase (TEX), 4:09.48

Defending champion Emma Weyant dominated the sixth and final heat of the women’s 400 IM, using a strong back half to touch in a time of 4:03.34, more than a second clear of the field.

Weyant, a senior at Florida, came into the meet ranking 4th in the NCAA with her season-best of 4:01.01 from the UGA Fall Invitational.

Tennessee freshman Ella Jansen established a personal best time of 4:04.45 to claim the #2 seed for the final, winning the penultimate heat and lowering her previous PB of 4:06.06 from a dual with Alabama last month.

Florida fifth-year Mabel Zavaros (4:06.30) and Texas sophomore Campbell Stoll (4:06.67) advanced 3rd and 4th overall, while Florida’ Julie Brousseau and Tennessee’s Emily Brown tied for 5th in 4:07.66, both setting massive personal best times.

Brousseau took two seconds off her lifetime best, while Brown slashed more than five seconds off her old PB of 4:13.07.

Florida first-year Sofia Plaza also set a PB of 4:08.14 to qualify in 7th, and the ‘A’ final cut-off of 4:09.48 was nearly five seconds faster than it was last year (4:14.44).

MEN’S 400 IM – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:28.82 – Leon Marchand, Arizona State (2023)
• SEC Record: 3:33.42 – Chase Kalisz, Georgia (2017)
• SEC Championship Record: 3:35.76 – Hugo Gonzalez, Auburn (2018)
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:38.37

‘A’ Final Qualifiers:

1. Rex Maurer (TEX), 3:38.61
2. Baylor Nelson (TAMU), 3:38.64
3. David Johnston (TEX), 3:39.07
4. Gio Linscheer (FLOR), 3:39.17
5. Mason Laur (FLOR), 3:39.32
6. Jake Magahey (UGA), 3:39.52
7. Cooper Lucas (TEX), 3:39.86
8. Drew Hitchcock (UGA), 3:40.09

The men stepped up this morning in the heats of the 400 IM as nine of the top 10 finishers set season-best times, with the only who didn’t being the NCAA’s fastest swimmer this season, Rex Maurer.

Maurer, a Texas sophomore, used a quick free split (25.52/24.66) to touch first in the final heat and post the fastest time of the morning in 3:38.61, edging out the time posted by defending champion Baylor Nelson one heat earlier.

Maurer is the fastest man in the NCAA this season by nearly five seconds, having logged a time of 3:34.19 at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite in November, which is within a second of the SEC Record set by Chase Kalisz in 2017 (3:33.42).

Nelson was solid across the board, and particularly quicker than Maurer was on breast, to lead the penultimate heat and qualify 2nd overall in 3:38.64, under his season-best of 3:39.35.

Texas’ David Johnston topped the first circle-seeded heat in 3:39.07 for 3rd overall, dipping under his season-best of 3:39.55, while Georgia freshman Drew Hitchcock set a best time from that heat in 3:40.09, landing a spot in the ‘A’ final in 8th.

In Nelson’s heat, Florida’s Gio Linscheer (3:39.17), Mason Laur (3:39.32) and Texas’ Cooper Lucas (3:39.86) had an exciting battle for 2nd, 3rd and 4th, with Linscheer and Lucas both setting personal best times.

Georgia’s Jake Magahey chipped four one-hundredths off his season-best in the final heat, clocking 3:39.52 with 25.53/24.74 splits coming home to advance in 6th.

The ‘A’ final cut-off of 3:40.09 was more than four seconds under what it took last year (3:44.12).

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 47.35 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• SEC Record: 48.51 – Maggie MacNeil, LSU (2023)
• SEC Championship Record: 48.99 – Maggie MacNeil, LSU (2023)
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 50.52

‘A’ Final Qualifiers:

1. Emma Sticklen (TEX), 49.85
2. Abby Arens (TEX), 51.03
3. Olivia Peoples (FLOR), 51.41
4. Greta Pelzek (SCAR), 51.46
5. Morgan Carteaux (AUB), 51.71
6. Olivia Bray (TEX), 51.72
7. Liv Theall (TAMU), 51.77
8. Sara Stotler (TENN), 51.81

Texas fifth-year Emma Sticklen continued her standout season in the women’s 100 fly by breaking 50 seconds yet again in the SEC prelims.

Sticklen clocked 49.85 this morning with splits of 22.99/26.86 to crack 50 for her fourth sub-50 swim of the season and seventh of her career, qualifying 1st into the final by over a second.

Sticklen set a lifetime best of 49.55 at the Eddie Reese Showdown last month, which ranks her 4th in the NCAA this season.

Fellow Longhorn fifth-year Abby Arens qualified 2nd into the final in 51.03, two one-hundredths shy of her season-best 51.01 set at the Eddie Reese Showdown. A former member of NC State, Arens owns a best time of 50.60 from the 2023 NCAAs.

Defending champion Olivia Peoples led the first circle-seeded heat in 51.41 to qualify 3rd overall, having been as fast as 51.16 this season at the UGA Fall Invite.

South Carolina senior Greta Pelzek (51.46) and Auburn sophomore Morgan Carteaux (51.71) set personal best times to qualify 4th and 5th into the final, with Carteaux dropping nearly a second and breaking 52 for the first time.

MEN’S 100 FLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 42.80 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• SEC Record: 42.80 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• SEC Championship Record: 43.89 – Josh Liendo, Florida (2024)
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.51

‘A’ Final Qualifiers:

1. Josh Liendo (FLOR), 43.70 *CR
2. Connor Foote (TAMU), 44.53
3. Luca Urlando (UGA), 44.64
4. Scotty Buff (FLOR), 44.67
5. Gui Caribe (TENN), 45.03
6. Bjoern Kammann (TENN), 45.12
7. Martin Espernberger (TENN), 45.43
8. Harrison Lierz (TENN), 45.63

Josh Liendo hammered out a new Championship Record in the heats of the men’s 100 fly, clocking a sizzling 43.70.

Liendo, the two-time defending SEC champion, becomes the fourth swimmer to break 44 seconds in the event this season, joining Luca Urlando, Jordan Crooks and Ilya Kharun.

Liendo is the second-fastest performer of all-time, having set a lifetime best of 43.07 last en route to winning the NCAA title.

He was notably only the fourth-fastest swimmer in the field at the 50 turn in 20.83, but rocketed home in 22.87, with his blistering 11.40 final 25 marking the field’s fastest by a full half-second.

• Liendo descended the last three 25s: 9.16/11.67/11.47/11.40

Texas A&M junior Connor Foote had some tantalizing front-end speed, turning first at the 50 by a half-second in 20.27 before hanging on for a new best time of 44.53, qualifying 2nd for the final.

Urlando, who leads the nation with his 43.62 swim from January, advanced 3rd in 44.64, with Florida sophomore Scotty Buff making it four men sub-45 this morning in 44.67—more than a second under his season-best of 45.69 from the UGA Fall Invite.

The Tennessee men put four swimmers into the ‘A’ final despite having Jordan Crooks racing the 200 free, claiming spots 5-8 with Gui Caribe leading the way in a season-best of 45.03.

Among the notable names missing the ‘A’ final was Texas freshman Kyle Peck, who set a PB of 44.74 at the Eddie Reese Showdown but was 46.08 this morning for 12th.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10 – Missy Franklin, Cal (2015)
• SEC Record: 1:40.90 – Bella Sims, Florida (2024)
• SEC Championship Record: 1:40.90 – Bella Sims, Florida (2024)
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:42.60

‘A’ Final Qualifiers:

1. Erin Gemmell (TEX), 1:42.84
2. Brooklyn Douthwright (TENN), 1:43.38
3. Julia Mrozinski (TENN) / Camille Spink (TENN), 1:44.00
4. –
5. Lillie Nesty (TEX), 1:44.05
6. Lainy Kruger (FLOR), 1:44.11
7. Chloe Stepanek (TAMU), 1:44.18
8. Marie Landreneau (UGA), 1:44.24

Texas sophomore Erin Gemmell continued her run of good form with a quick swim in the heats of the women’s 200 free, posting the top time of the morning by more than half a second in 1:42.84.

Gemmell set a personal best of 1:42.79 in this event last month at the Eddie Reese Showdown, and then brought that down to 1:42.49 on Tuesday night leading off Texas’ 800 free relay. That swim ranks her 8th in the nation this season.

Racing alongside Gemmell in the seventh of eight heats, Tennessee’s Brooklyn Douthwright clocked 1:43.38 to qualify 2nd for the final, with Texas A&M’s Chloe Stepanek battling her way to a berth in the final from that heat in 1:44.18.

Douthwright brought her season-best down to 1:42.94 on Tuesday leading off the Lady Vols’ victorious 800 free relay.

Tennessee teammates Julia Mrozinski and Camille Spink posted matching 1:44-flats en route to winning the other two circle-seeded heats, with Mrozinski hitting a new season-best.

Spink, the runner-up in this event last year, notably split 1:41.28 on Tuesday in the 800 free relay, so watch for her to drop big in the final.

Texas’ Lillie Nesty qualified 5th in 1:44.05, and will also be one to keep an eye on after she split 1:41.70 on the 800 free relay.

MEN’S 200 FREE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:28.81 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2024)
• SEC Record: 1:29.48 – Kieran Smith, Florida (2021)
• SEC Championship Record: 1:29.48 – Kieran Smith, Florida (2021)
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:31.21

‘A’ Final Qualifiers:

1. Chris Guiliano (TEX), 1:30.31
2. Luke Hobson (TEX), 1:30.76
3. Charlie Hawke (BAMA), 1:30.84
4. Tomas Koski (UGA), 1:30.85
5. Jordan Crooks (TENN), 1:31.10
6. Alex Painter (FLOR), 1:31.49
7. Toni Dragoja (BAMA), 1:32.19
8. Kaique Alves (BAMA), 1:32.21

The heats of the men’s 200 free proved to be blazing fast as four swimmers went 1:30-point, and one of them wasn’t the fastest swimmer in the nation this season, Jordan Crooks.

Texas senior and Notre Dame transfer Chris Guiliano fired off a new personal best time of 1:30.31 to lead the field from the first circle-seeded heat, with teammate Luke Hobson racing alongside him and posting the second-fastest time of the session in 1:30.76.

Guiliano chips five one-hundredths off his previous best time of 1:30.36, set at the 2024 NCAAs, and moves up two spots into 12th on the all-time performers’ list.

Hobson, the two-time defending NCAA champion who owns the all-time record of 1:28.81, was just shy of the season-best time of 1:30.45 set on Tuesday leading off Texas’ 800 free relay (Guiliano notably split 1:30.04 on the relay).

Alabama senior Charlie Hawke clocked 1:30.84 to win the penultimate heat and advance in 3rd, having set a lifetime best of 1:30.44 on Tuesday leading off the 800 free relay.

In the seventh and final heat, Georgia’s Tomas Koski edged out Crooks in a time of 1:30.85 to qualify 4th for the final, with Crooks a quarter-second back in 1:31.10.

Koski’s swim marks a massive lifetime best, with his previous mark sitting at 1:31.72 from the UGA Fall Invitational in November. However, the performance is no surprise after he put up a blistering 1:29.64 flying split on the Bulldogs’ 800 free relay early in the meet.

Crooks came into the meet leading the NCAA after clocking 1:30.00 at the Tennessee Invitational in November.

Another standout in the event was Florida freshman Alex Painter, who led off the Gators’ record-setting 800 free relay in a PB of 1:31.21 and backed that swim up this morning in 1:31.49, qualifying 6th for the final.

A total of 13 swimmers broke 1:33 in this morning’s prelims, a significant uptick compared to last year’s nine, though the ‘A’ final cut-off was less than six-tenths faster than 2024 (1:32.21 to 1:32.80).

MEN’S 1-METER DIVING – PRELIMS

• SEC Record: 479.10 – Juan Celaya-Hernandez, LSU (2018)

‘A’ Final Qualifiers:

1. Carson Paul (LSU), 365.65
2. Nick Harris (TEX), 361.20
3. Whit Andrus (AUB), 349.70
4. Conor Gesing (FLOR), 344.10
5. Jesus Gonzalez (FLOR), 341.60
6. Jacob Jones (TEX), 337.40
7. Peyton Donald (FLOR), 337.25
8. Sam Duncan (UKY), 332.25

LSU’s Carson Paul was the top performer during the prelims of the men’s 1-meter diving event, scoring 365.65 to lead Texas’ Nick Harris (361.20) by just over four points.

The Florida men managed to put three divers into the ‘A’ final, which will be crucial points in the team race.