For those unfamiliar with swimming terminology, the concept of “Ups” and “Downs” is a good way to track which teams performed best at prelims. In prelims, swimmers qualify for one of three finals heats: the top 8 finishers make the A final, places 9 through 16 the B final and places 17 through 24 the C final. In finals, swimmers are locked into their respective final, meaning a swimmer in the B heat (spots 9-16) can only place as high as 9th or as low as 16th, even if they put up the fastest or slowest time of any heat in the final.
With that in mind, we’ll be tracking “Ups,” “Mids” and “Downs” after each prelims session. “Up” refers to swimmers in the A final, “Mid” to swimmers in the B final and “Down” to swimmers in the C final.
2016 MEN’S & WOMEN’S SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, February 16 – Saturday, February 20
- Mizzou Aquatic Center, Columbia, MO (Central Time Zone)
- Prelims 10AM / Finals 6PM (Wed-Sat), Tuesday Timed Finals 5:30PM (Central Time)
- Defending Men’s Champion: Florida (3x)
- Defending Women’s Champion: Georgia Bulldogs, 6 Consecutive Titles
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live results
- Live Video
- Men’s Fan Guide
- Women’s Fan Guide
Heading into the final night of action at the 2016 SEC Championships, the Auburn and Alabama men look set up to make big points runs with 5 A finalists apiece.
Alabama has the best setup with 5 up and 4 mid for 9 total scoring swims. Keep in mind that these numbers don’t include the 1650 free, which is swum as timed finals with heats this afternoon and the top 8 seeds tonight. They also don’t include the 400 free relay.
That has tremendous meaning for the team race. After last night, Florida leads Auburn by just 30 points, and Auburn is set up with 3 more A finalists and 2 more scoring swims than Florida. The 1650 should favor the Gators pretty heavily, but Auburn seems to be set up better for the 400 free relay, which could bring this thing down to the wire tonight.
Florida has the top seed in the 100 free with Caeleb Dressel, but Auburn has a pair of #2 seeds with 200 IM champ Joe Patching (200 back) and Peter Holoda (100 free).
Also look for Alabama to make a big run from 5th place. They’re only 6 behind Missouri and 140 behind Georgia – the latter being a wide margin, but certainly doable, especially given that Georgia has zero A finalists and just 6 total scoring swims out of prelims.
Men’s Ups/Mids/Downs – Day 5
| Up | Mid | Down | |
| Alabama | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Auburn | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Missouri | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Florida | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Texas A&M | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| LSU | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Georgia | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For the women, the team battle could be equally exciting. Separated by just 32 points after last night, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Georgia each have 4 A finalists. A&M leads with 12 scoring swims in a show of depth, Tennessee has 9 and Georgia 8. But the Bulldogs and Volunteers are probably set up better in the 1650 – 200/500 free champ Brittany MacLean will try to lead a Bulldog surge right away tonight.
The women also have platform diving in tonight’s session, plus the 400 free relay.
Women’s Ups/Mids/Downs – Day 5
| Up | Mid | Down | |
| Texas A&M | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Georgia | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Auburn | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Missouri | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Florida | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| LSU | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 0 | 1 |
I love it when meets come down to the last day or last event even. Im rooting for the underdogs here: Auburn and A&M. leggo.
Seems like Auburn might take the title back home this year.
It will be tough to beat Florida.They have a lot of guys in 1650free.
They’ve had a great meet. Good to see them back up at the top this year. It will be close, but Florida is going to do some damage in the 1650. Hopefully it comes down to the 400 free relay