LSU’s Karl Luht Swims 45.9 in the 100 Back in SEC Champs Time Trial

Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 7

February 19th, 2019 College, News, SEC

SEC – Women

The SEC Championships unofficially opened on Tuesday morning with the first time trials session of the meet. One of the benefits of the SEC’s unique 5-day meet format is the ability for athletes chasing NCAA qualifying times (or just personal bests) to time trial races without overloading their schedule on any one day.

The LSU Tigers took the biggest advantage of the opportunity on day 1, where there is no swimming prelims session. That’s especially true for junior Karl Luht, who swam a 45.95 in the 100 back time trial. That’s a lifetime best for him by two-tenths, and most importantly is a likely qualifying mark for the NCAA Championships. A 46.14 was invited last year, and Andrew Mering estimates that a 46.08 will be fast enough this year (though that’s not a guarantee). The time ranks 15th nationally this season.

While not an NCAA qualifying time, South Carolina senior Caleb Tosh had a huge time trial result in that race as well, finishing in 46.75. His previous best time, from the 2016 SEC Championships, was 48.92.

The closest swim to qualifying out of the women’s time trials came from Tennessee freshman Trude Rothrock, who swam a 52.79 in the women’s 100 fly. That’s her best time in the event (she’d been stuck at 52.97 since the spring of 2017 at the Indiana High School State Championships) and, if repeated, should pick up big points in the B final of the 100 fly as Tennessee fights for the team title.

Auburn senior Foster Ballard swam a 1:42.76 in the men’s 200 fly time trial. That’s unlikely to qualify for NCAAs, but it is a time worthy of an A-Final at this meet in a race where, last year, he was Auburn’s highest finisher in 17th place at SECs (1:43.65, stuck in the C Final). He’d need to drop about 4 tenths to hit Andrew Mering’s qualifying projection for that race in his 2 more shots at this meet.

Also of note – Kentucky’s Wyatt Amdor swam a 52 in the 100 breast, but was disqualified.

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SaintJoseph
5 years ago

I will bet an old speedo with 5 holes in it that the three great time trial swims 45.95 by LSU guy, 52.79 She-Vol and !;42.7 AU man WILL NOT SWIM AS FAST IN THE HEATS OR FINAL SWIM.

Klorn8d
5 years ago

Auburn guy went 1:42 200 fly, pretty close to ncaas I bet

Dashriprock
Reply to  Klorn8d
5 years ago

No chance….unless its VERY LOW 1:42

Dawg Kickass
Reply to  Klorn8d
5 years ago

Yeah, let’s give Foster Ballard some love! That was, by far, the best swim of the morning.

Taa
Reply to  Klorn8d
5 years ago

Needed to be 1:42 low. He was close.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Taa
5 years ago

He has 2 more chances most likely

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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