Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Jared Anderson.
WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINALS
- Sydney Pickrem, A&M – 4:05.32
- Lisa Bratton, A&M – 4:05.44
- Bethany Galat, A&M – 4:05.77
Texas A&M freshman Sydney Pickrem held her top seed as the Aggies kicked off night three in the absolute best way possible: a 1-2-3 sweep of the 400 IM. Pickrem, one of Canada’s top young swimmers internationally, went 4:05.32 for a new pool record and an NCAA A cut.
Sophomores Lisa Bratton (4:05.44) and Bethany Galat (4:05.77) were second and third.
This comes a day after Bratton and Galat went 1-2 in the 200 IM, and it also vaulted A&M past Tennessee and Georgia for the team points lead.
Georgia’s Emily Cameron was 4:07.60 for fourth, followed by a pair of Volunteers: Amanda Carner (4:08.59) and Lauren Driscoll (4:09.15).
In fact, though, the fourth-fastest time overall came out of the B final, where Alabama sophomore Mia Nonnenberg went 4:06.99 for 9th place overall. Nonnenberg had to scrape for an NCAA invite through a last chance meet in 2015, but should be safely into the big show with her finals time.
Texas A&M women are easily the most underrated program in the country year after year
Would agree – just look at the progress ladies make. Believing you can improve is the 1st key step and Steve & staff have done that. Planting a seed that you expect folks to improve & showing them how but what they do consistently in practice.
Exactly! 3 women going 4:05 in the 4 IM is no small feat. Sarah Gibson is having a great SEC’s and I hope she carries this momentum into NCAA’s. I’m speculating but, I think Gastaldello is on minimal rest given French Nationals (their Olympic trials) are so close to NCAA’s, so I think she’s saving a full taper for those two meets. Bultman and his staff really know how to bring out the best in this talented group of women. The depth they have this year may very well carry them on to an SEC title.
I’m impressed Bultman does this year after year. Breeja and Camille Adams have seen major success internationally. Paige Miller and Sarah Henry were both… Read more »