2016 SEC Championships: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2016 MEN’S & WOMEN’S SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hali Flickinger blazed to the top seed in the 200 back this morning, clocking a 1:50.95 to lead the field headed into finals. Flickinger’s time was a new pool record, breaking the previous record of 1:52.15 set by Dominique Bouchard in 2012. Defending SEC champion Danielle Galyer qualified 2nd behind Flickinger with a 1:51.40.

Behind those two, Lisa Bratton (1:52.56), Kylie Stewart (1:52.69), and Nadine Laemmler (1:52.82) all hit the 1:52 mark to earn the next 3 spots in the championship final. Florida’s Ashlee Linn set herself up in 6th place with a 1:53.07. Rounding out the top 8, Caroline Baddock (1:53.90) and Bridgette Alexander (1:53.96) clipped the 1:54 barrier for 7th and 8th, respectively.

1. Hali Flickinger, Georgia – 1:50.95
2. Danielle Galyer, Kentucky – 1:51.40
3. Lisa Bratton, Texas A&M – 1:52.56
4. Kylie Stewart, Georgia – 1:52.69
5. Nadine Laemmler, Missouri – 1:52.82
6. Ashlee Linn, Florida – 1:53.07
7. Caroline Baddock, Auburn- 1:53.90
8. Bridgette Alexander, Kentucky- 1:53.96

MEN’S 200 BACK PRELIMS

The old pool record fell 3 times during the men’s 200 back prelims. Before today, Carter Griffin held the record at 1:41.67. Following the final heat of prelims, the record is now shared by Auburn’s Joe Patching and Tennessee’s Sean Lehane at 1:40.89. Those two men tied in their heat, each claiming the top spot headed into finals. The 3rd through 5th seeds, Carter Griffin (1:41.11), Connor Oslin (1:41.44), and Christopher Reid (1:41.48), were also under the old record.

Corey Main broke 1:42 to take 6th in 1:41.92. Closing out the championship qualifications were Brock Bonetti (1:42.75) and Thomas Smith (1:42.78).

1. Joe Patching, Auburn- 1:40.89
2. Sean Lehane, Tennessee- 1:40.89
3. Carter Griffin, Missouri- 1:41.11
4. Connor Oslin, Alabama- 1:41.44
5. Christopher Reid, Alabama- 1:41.48
6. Corey Main, Florida- 1:41.92
7. Brock Bonetti, Texas A&M- 1:42.75
8. Thomas Smith, LSU- 1:42.78

WOMEN’S 100 FREE PRELIMS

The women’s 100 free pool record was also rewritten multiple times this morning. First, Kira Toussaint erased Karlee Bispo’s 47.93 from 2009 with her own 47.78, a new personal best. Natalie Hinds fired back right after with a 47.44 to claim the record and the top seed headed into finals. Up to challenge those two will be the 50 free champion, Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga, who qualified 3rd in 48.24.

Tennessee will make up half of the championship final tonight with Toussaint, Faith Johnson (48.26), Harper Bruens (48.51), and Madeline Banic (48.70). That means big points for Tennessee, who are looking to surpass Texas A&M in the team rankings. The Aggies will have Beryl Gastaldello (48.29) in the final as the 5th seed. LSU’s Leah Troskot closed out the top 8 in 48.81.

1. Natalie Hinds, Florida- 47.44
2. Kira Toussaint, Tennessee- 47.78
3. Olivia Smoliga, Georgia- 48.24
4. Faith Johnson, Tennessee- 48.26
5. Beryl Gastaldello, Texas A&M- 48.29
6. Harper Bruens, Tennessee- 48.51
7. Madeline Banic, Tennessee- 48.70
8. Leah Troskot, LSU- 48.81

MEN’S 100 FREE PRELIMS

All eyes were on Caeleb Dressel this morning in the men’s 100 free after the sophomore Gator broke the American Record in both prelims and finals of the 50 free earlier in the meet. Dressel was well ahead of his heat, looking smooth on the way to a new pool record and top seed of 41.71. Also under Jimmy Feigen’s old pool record were Auburn’s Peter Holoda in 42.23 and Missouri’s Michael Chadwick in 42.31.

Laurent Bams (42.71), Arthur Mendes (42.89), and Kristian Gkolomeev (42.90) each broke 43 to grab the 4th through 6th seeds. Kyle Darmody swam to a 43.09, good for 7th, getting Auburn a 3rd championship finalist in this event. Alex Linge took the 8th spot in 43.19.

1. Caeleb Dressel, Florida- 41.71
2. Peter Holoda, Auburn- 42.23
3. Michael Chadwick, Missouri- 42.31
4. Laurent Bams, Alabama- 42.71
5. Arthur Mendes, Auburn- 42.89
6. Kristian Gkolomeev, Alabama- 42.90
7. Kyle Darmody, Auburn- 43.09
8. Alex Linge, LSU- 43.19

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST PRELIMS

There were 4 women under 2:09 in prelims of the 200 breast this morning, led by Alabama’s Bridget Blood in 2:08.25. Annie Zhu (2:08.64) took 2nd overall, a fingernail ahead of Sydney Pickrem (2:08.67). Katherine Ross, the 100 breast champ, was 4th with a 2:08.91.

Ross’ teammate Abby Duncan took the 5th spot in 2:09.38, just ahead of Auburn’s breaststroke duo of Annie Lazor (2:09.76) and Natasha Lloyd (2:10.17). Closing out the top 8 was Texas A&M’s Bethany Galat in 2:10.20.

1. Bridget Blood, Alabama- 2:08.25
2. Annie Zhu, Georgia- 2:08.64
3. Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M- 2:08.67
4. Katharine Ross, Missouri- 2:08.91
5. Abby Duncan, Missouri- 2:09.38
6. Annie Lazor, Auburn- 2:09.76
7. Natasha Lloyd, Auburn- 2:10.17
8. Bethany Galat, Texas A&M- 2:10.20

MEN’S 200 BREAST PRELIMS

Alabama’s Anton McKee, the 2014 SEC champion in this event, set himself up as the top seed in the men’s 200 breast tonight with a 1:54.09. McKee will look to reclaim his SEC title in this event, but he’ll be challenged by Mauro Castillo-Luna (1:54.93) who was also under 1:55 this morning. McKee will also have to hold off 3rd and 4th seeds, Fabian Schwingenschlogl (1:55.05) and 100 breast champ Michael Duderstadt (1:55.31), if he wants to take home the title.

Nils Wich-Glaesen put himself in the mix with a 1:55.48 for 5th overall. There was a tie for 6th behind him between Eddie Mapel and Ethan Browne at 1:55.86. George Greenhalgh rounded out the top 8 in 1:55.98.

1. Anton McKee, Alabama- 1:54.09
2. Mauro Castillo-Luna, Texas A&M- 1:54.93
3. Fabian Schwingenschlogl, Missouri- 1:55.05
4. Michael Duderstadt, Auburn- 1:55.31
5. Nils Wich-Glaesen, South Carolina- 1:55.48
6. Eddie Mapel, Missouri- 1:55.86
7. Ethan Browne, Tennessee- 1:55.86
8. George Greenhalgh, Kentucky- 1:55.98