2026 SEC Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2026 SEC Championships

• Dates: Monday, February 16–Saturday, February 21
• Location: Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Knoxville, TN
• Defending Champions: Texas (1x)
• Live Results
• Live Video: SEC Network+
• Psych Sheet (UPDATED)
• Schedule of Events
• Championship Central
• Teams: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M
• Live Recaps
  • Finals: Day 1 Distance | Day 1 |

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet

Day 2 Prelims Scratch Report 

The 2026 SEC Championships are already off to an incredible start. Yesterday, the swimming action got underway and we were treated to an NCAA record and two 17.5 50 freestyle splits during the men’s 200 medley relay, along with Ahmed Jaouadi winning the 1650 freestyle in a pool record (14:25.14) and sophomore Jillian Cox defending her title in the same event.

Now, we’ll settle into the familiar pace of a championship meet with the first prelims session. But it might not look so familiar — given the schedule changes at the NCAA Championship level this year, the SEC Championships have made their own updates to reflect those changes (albeit strung out for an extra day at the conference level). That means that instead of the typical 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle lineup on the first day of individual events, fans will be treated to the 100 backstroke, 200 butterfly, and 100 breaststroke on Day 1.

Headlining the day’s action is Luca Urlando, the 200 butterfly extraordinaire. He’s the defending NCAA and SEC champion in the event and also holds the NCAA, American, U.S. Open, and Championship records in the event (and that leaves aside his palmarès in the long-course pool. He’s already lowered his NCAA record this season, swimming a 1:36.41 at midseason.

The men’s 100 backstroke will also feature a rematch between Florida’s Jonny Marshall and Texas’ duo of NCAA record holder Hubert Kos and top seed Will Modglin. Modglin popped a 20.17 50 backstroke split yesterday to lead the men’s backstrokers ahead of Marshall’s 20.52, while Kos is the defending NCAA champion and the NCAA record holder. Georgia’s Ruard van Renen is the #2 seed (43.92) and aims to upset the Longhorns and Gators.

On the women’s side, it’s the 100 breaststroke that should be the must-watch individual race of the day. With Mona McSharry graduated from Tennessee, this event is open in a way that it hasn’t been at the conference level for the better part of a decade. McSharry’s former teammates McKenzie Siroky and Emelie Fast are looking to keep the title in Volunteer hands and form a strong 1-2 punch for the home team, but Florida’s Anita Bottazzo has been lights out all season. Bottazzo has the top entry time with a 56.78, nearly a full second ahead of Siroky’s 57.78.

Women’s 100 Backstroke — Prelims

• NCAA Record: 48.10 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• SEC Record: 49.20 — Bella Sims, Florida (2025)
• SEC Championship Record: 49.20 — Bella Sims, Florida (2025)
• Pool Record: 48.26 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2023)
• 2026 NCAA Championships Qualifying Time: 52.65

Top 8:

1. Emily Jones (BAMA) — 51.03
2. Jillian Crooks (TENN) — 51.24
3. Catie Choate (FLOR) — 51.38
4. Zoe Carlos-Bloc (LSU) — 51.49
5. Kaitlyn Owens (TAMU) — 51.62
6. Mizuki Hirai (TENN) — 51.70
7. Emma Kern (TEX) — 51.81
8. Lora Komoroczy (AUB) — 52.00

It took a 52.00 to make it back for the women’s 100 backstroke championship final this evening, as Auburn’s Lora Komoroczy (52.00) snagged lane eight by .11 seconds ahead of Alabama junior Ella Menear (52.11).

Even with Menear leading the way into the ‘B’ final this evening, the Crimson Tide will still be well represented in the championship heat. Senior Emily Jones defended her top seed by putting up a 51.03 in prelims, winning the final heat in the fastest time of the morning. She’s already been as fast as 50.61 this season and looks in control headed into the final.

However, there are plenty of young swimmers looking to disrupt her, highlighted by Tennessee’s duo of Jillian Crooks and Mizuki Hirai. Both swam lifetime bests this morning, with Crooks posting the second-fastest time overall with a 51.24, undercutting her previous best by three-tenths. Hirai arrived on Rocky Top earlier this semester and has made quick work adjusting to the yards format. Her 51.70 this morning is her first time sub-52 seconds in the 100 backstroke, sailing under her former best of 52.90 from a dual meet earlier this term. She’s sitting sixth heading into the final, but it’s easy to see her knocking even more time off tonight and moving up the standings.

Florida junior Catie Choate qualified third overall in 51.38, coming in second to Crooks during the penultimate heat. The middle of the final qualifier are bunched close together; Choate is followed by LSU’s  Zoe Carlos-Broc (51.49) and Texas A&M’s Kaitlyn Owens (51.62). Texas also has a representative in the championship final as Emma Kern swam a season-best 51.81 to qualify seventh.

Men’s 100 Backstroke — Prelims

• NCAA Record: 43.20 — Hubert Kos, Texas (2025)
• SEC Record: 43.20 — Hubert Kos, Texas (2025)
• SEC Championship Record: 43.73 — Jonny Marshall, Florida (2025)
• Pool Record: 44.07 — Nick Thorman, SwimMAC (2013)
• 2026 NCAA Championships Qualifying Time: 46.29

Top 8:

1. Hubert Kos (TEX) — 43.87 *Pool Record*
2. Will Modglin (TEX) — 44.16
3. Ulises Saravia (TENN) — 44.50
4. Jonny Marshall (FLOR) — 44.80
5. Ruard van Renen (UGA) — 44.81
6. Lysander Osman (UK) — 44.87
7. Scotty Buff (FLOR) — 45.23
8. Tommy Hager (BAMA) — 45.26

Kos made a statement this morning, firing off a 43.87 during heat three of the men’s 100 backstroke prelims. That time torched the 13-year-old pool record, held by Nick Thorman and scared the SEC Championship meet record Marshall set last year.

Kos was the only man to break 44-seconds this morning and now finds himself the second-fastest man in the NCAA this season behind only Modglin’s 43.26 from midseason. Heat four featured a tight race between Marshall and the now third-fastest man in the NCAA this season, van Renen. Marshall won their duel by .01, stopping the clock in a season-best 44.80. That marks Marshall’s first sub-45 second swim of the season.

Meanwhile, Kentucky freshman Lysander Osman torched the Wildcats’ school record in a 44.87. The Frenchman’s previous best was a 45.91 from midseason. Tennessee’s Ulises Saravia scared his school record as well, posting a 44.50 and missing Harrison Lierz’s mark by a tenth. Saravia is already the second-fastest Volunteer in school history and will have another shot at the record tonight.

Texas newcomer Ksawery Masiuk will be in lane four for tonight’s ‘B’ final after posting a lifetime best 45.30 to qualify ninth.

Women’s 200 Butterfly — Prelims

• NCAA Record: 1:49.11 — Emma Sticklen, Texas (2025)
• SEC Record: 1:49.11 — Emma Sticklen, Texas (2025)
• SEC Championship Record: 1:49.17 — Emma Sticklen, Texas (2025)
• Pool Record: 1:49.95 — Emma Sticklen, Texas (2023)
• 2026 NCAA Championships Qualifying Time: 1:57.11

Top 8:

1. Ella Jansen (TENN) — 1:53.26
2. Campbell Stoll (TEX) — 1:53.36
3. Emily Brown (TENN) — 1:53.49
4. Sofia Sartori (LSU) — 1:54.25
5. Jordan Agliano (SCAR) — 1:54.50
6. Ava Whitaker (TAMU) — 1:55.91
7. Giulia Zambelli (LSU)/Lainy Kruger (FLOR) — 1:56.17
8. —

After the pool record fireworks in the previous event, the women’s 200 butterfly prelims were a rather quiet affair. Only South Carolina senior Jordan Agliano improved on her seed time this morning–dropping .37 seconds for a 1:54.50. The other top contenders in the event simply did what they needed to qualify for the championship final.

Ella Jansen‘s 1:53.26 from heat three held up as the fastest time of the morning, giving the home team their first individual top seed of the meet. Jansen is the third-fastest woman in school history with her personal best 1:52.88. It’s Emily Brown who owns the school record in the event after the 1:52.39 she swam earlier this term. Brown posted a 1:53.49 this morning, qualifying third overall and giving herself plenty of room to work with this evening.

The middle of the pool will be very orange tonight–sandwiched between the two Volunteers will the Longhorns’ Campbell Stoll. She was the runner-up in this event at the 2025 SEC Championships, giving Texas a 1-2 with herself and the champion Sticklen. She’s the only Texas swimmer in the championship final this year so while Texas can’t repeat the 1-2 finish, Stoll will be hoping to keep up Texas undefeated in the event since joining the SEC last season. She has the fastest personal best of the top three swimmers at 1:51.64 from this meet last year.

Men’s 200 Butterfly — Prelims

• NCAA Record: 1:36.41 — Luca Urlando, Georgia (2025)
• SEC Record: 1:36.41 — Luca Urlando, Georgia (2025)
• SEC Championship Record: 1:37.18 — Luca Urlando, Georgia (2025)
• Pool Record: 1:37.56 — Ilya Kharun, Arizona State (2025)
• 2026 NCAA Championships Qualifying Time: 1:43.79

Top 8:

1. Luca Urlando (UGA) — 1:39.87
2. Drew Hitchcock (UGA) — 1:40.48
3. Abdalla Youssef Nasr (AUB) — 1:40.73
4. Kyle Peck (TEX) — 1:40.87
5. Jan Zubik (UMIZ) — 1:41.19
6. Martin Espernberger (TENN) — 1:41.56
7. Cooper Lucas (TEX) — 1:41.83
8. Rex Maurer ( TEX) — 1:41.87

Last year, Urlando approached the 200 butterfly prelims similarly to the way Kos took on the 100 backstroke prelims this year. Urlando threw down the gauntlet in the morning, posting a 1:38.86 in prelims on the way to a 1:37.18 (missing the NCAA record by a fingernail) in the final.

Today, he changed it up, swimming a controlled 1:39.87 that still secured him the middle lane for this evening’s final. He was the only one to crack 1:40-seconds this morning. His sophomore teammate Drew Hitchcock will swim next to him after missing his season-best by just two-hundredths with a 1:40.48. Hitchcock was excellent for Georgia in his debut season and that has continued this year–this event is also a clear example of his improvement. Last year, he qualified for the final in eighth with a 1:41.09. Now, he’s qualified second in 1:40.48.

This year’s prelims were a bit slower than last year’s, which is an interesting development considering the event is now much earlier in the schedule. Still, this year Rex Maurer qualified for the final in eighth with a 1:41.87. The Longhorns will have three swimmers in the final; sophomore Kyle Peck opted for this event and it paid off with a heat win and lifetime best (1:40.87). Peck qualified fourth and his classmate Cooper Lucas swam a 1:41.83 for seventh.

Auburn freshman Abdalla Youssef Nasr dropped .93 seconds from his lifetime best, swimming a 1:40.73 to move through to the final in third.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke — Prelims

• NCAA Record: 55.73 — Lilly King, Indiana (2019)
• SEC Record: 56.64 — Mona McSharry, Tennessee (2024)
• SEC Championship Record: 57.06 — Mona McSharry, Tennessee (2024)
• Pool Record: 56.64 — Molly Hannis, TNAQ (2017)
• 2026 NCAA Championships Qualifying Time: 1:00.30

Top 8:

1. Anita Bottazzo (FLOR) — 57.78
2. McKenzie Siroky (TENN) — 58.66
3. Simone Moll (TENN) — 58.86
4. Lina Bank (UMIZ) — 58.96
5. Martina Bukvic (LSU) — 59.47
6. Piper Enge (TEX) — 59.63
7. Molly Mayne (FLOR) — 59.64
8. Annika Finzen (AUB) — 1:00.01

Bottazzo looks in full control of the women’s 100 breaststroke after the prelims. The Florida sophomore swam a 57.78 to win heat six. She added .91 seconds from her season-best but still easily posted the morning’s top time as she sits .88 seconds ahead of Siroky.

There were still surprises in the event this morning. Based on the psych sheets, it looked like Tennessee’s podium-contending duo would be Siroky and Fast. And while Siroky is sitting in a podium position with a 58.66, Fast is out of the championship final after finishing third in 2024. She swam 1:00.14 this morning, qualifying for the ‘B’ final in 12th overall. The Volunteers still have two swimmers “up” though, as Simone Moll swam a lifetime best 58.86 to qualify third for the championship final.

Missouri senior Lina Bank rounds out the qualifiers who got under 59-seconds this morning–her 58.96 marks a lifetime best for her as well (by three-hundredths). Piper Enge (59.63) and Molly Mayne (59.64) will be in the outside lanes tonight but could make moves up the standings.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke — Prelims

• NCAA Record: 49.51 — Julian Smith, Florida (2025)
• SEC Record: 49.51 — Julian Smith, Florida (2025)
• SEC Championship Record: 49.51 — Julian Smith, Florida (2025)
• Pool Record: 50.78 — Derek Maas, Alabama (2022)
• 2026 NCAA Championships Qualifying Time: 52.58

Top 8:

1. Nate Germonprez (TEX) — 50.05 *Pool Record* 
2. Koen de Groot (FLOR) — 50.72
3. Adomas Gatulis (UK) — 51.35
4. Campbell McKean (TEX) — 51.65
5. Uros Zivanovic (AUB) — 51.70
6. Levi Thorne (LSU) — 51.72
7. Gabe Nunziata (TENN) — 51.74
8. Einar Margeir Agustsson (SCAR) — 51.75

Make that two pool records this morning for the Texas men. Kos took down the long-standing 100 backstroke record earlier in the session and in the last event it was Nate Germonprez‘s turn.

He swam a 50.05 in the final heat, breaking the pool record that Derek Maas swam in 2022. The swim underlines his status as the favorite in this event. He’s the top qualifier heading into tonight’s final, and leads the NCAA in the 100 breaststroke this season with a 49.71.

The only other 50-point swim in the heats came from Florida’s Koen de Groot. de Groot swam on the Gators’ NCAA record-setting relay last night and checked in this morning with a 50.72. While the top half of the championship qualifiers are relatively spaced out, it was a battle to scrape into the championship final. Fourth through ninth place are separated by just .13 seconds.

Freshman Campbell McKean added over a second from his seed time but still did enough with a 51.65 to qualify for the final in fourth, giving the Longhorns two in the top eight. They are the only school with two swimmers in the championship final, as Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, and South Carolina each qualified one swimmer. Surprisingly, LSU’s representative is junior Levi Thome as sophomore Volodymyr Lisovets swam a season-best 51.78 but missed the final by three-hundredths. Aleksas Savickas will also be in the ‘B’ final after a 51.95 effort this morning, leaving de Groot as the Gators’ lone ‘A’ final qualifier.