2022 SEC Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2022 SEC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, February 15 – Saturday, February 19, 2022
• Jones Aquatics Center, Knoxville, Tenn. (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending Champion: Men- Florida (9x) Women- Kentucky (1x)
• Live Results
• Live Video (Watch ESPN)
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheets
• 2021 SEC Scoring Breakdown
• Day 4 Prelims
• Day 4 Finals Heat Sheets

With only two nights of racing to go at the 2022 SEC Championships, it seems like the Florida men and Tennessee women have the titles on lock. As night 3 wrapped, the Gator’s men’s team sat with 744 points, which is more than 200 points ahead of 2nd place Georgia (496).

The Lady Vols on the other hand has 758.50 points, while Georgia also sits at #2 in the women’s race with 537.

Tennessee’s Mona McSharry will attempt to collect the SEC title in the women’s 100 breast, having attained the top seed of 57.79. In the 200 butterfly, Georgia will lead the way into the final in both the men’s and women’s races courtesy of Dakota Luther (1:53.83) and Luca Urlando (1:40.14).

Following a bronze medal performance in the 50 freestyle, Florida’s Adam Chaney will have a shot at another medal as top seed in the 100 backstroke. Chaney was the only man to crack 45 seconds in the prelims with a 44.91, while Auburn’s Nathaniel Stoffle followed in a 45.74.

Finally, Alabama has secured two top seeds heading into day 3 finals in the form of Rhyan White who posted a 51.08 100 backstroke, and Derek Maas who swam a 51.35 in the 100 breast.

Women’s 200 fly

• NCAA Record: 1:49.51 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• SEC Record: 1:52.04 – Dakota Luther, Georgia (2021)
• SEC Meet Record: 1:52.04 – Dakota Luther, Georgia (2021)
• NCAA A Standard: 1:53.20
• NCAA B Standard: 1:59.23

Top 3:

1. Riley Gaines (UKY) – 1:51.51
2. Dakota Luther (UGA) – 1:51.65
3. Callie Dickinson (UGA) – 1:55.01

Riley Gaines pulled off a second SEC title-winning swim in the women’s 200 butterfly, adding to the 200 freestyle crown that she secured earlier on in the meet. Gaines picked up the 200 butterfly title for Kentucky with a 1:51.51, knocking down the SEC record of 1:52.04.

That SEC record was previously held by Georgia’s Dakota Luther who set the mark en route to gold at last year’s SEC Championships. Luther was present in the final as well, delivering a silver medal-winning swim of 1:51.65 (also under her own former SEC record).

This time by Gaines makes her the fastest woman in the NCAA this season, beating Olivia Carter‘s former #1 mark of 1:51.62. Gaines had a best time of 1:54.84 heading into this meet, which she lowered to a 1:54.69 in the prelims before knocking off another 3.18 seconds in the final.

Luther’s teammate Callie Dickinson got herself onto the podium with a 1:55.01, meaning that there was more than a 3-second margin between silver and bronze. Amanda Ray of Florida was just off the podium, placing 4th overall in a 1:55.53.

Notably, B final winner Anna Havens Rice swam a 1:55.86, which is almost 3 seconds faster than her 1:58.79 PB heading into the meet from January 2022.

Men’s 200 fly

• NCAA Record: 1:37.35 – Jack Conger, Texas (2017)
• SEC Record: 1:38.69 – Shaine Casas, Texas A&M (2021)
• SEC Meet Record: 1:40.59 – Hugo Morris, Auburn (2016)
• NCAA A Standard: 1:40.44
• NCAA B Standard: 1:46.69

Top 3:

1. Luca Urlando (UGA) – 1:39.00
2. Matt Sates (UGA) – 1:39.88
3. Mason Wilby (UKY) – 1:40.15

Luca Urlando has completed a 3-for-3 victory in his individual events at the 2022 SEC Championships, putting up a 1:39.00 200 butterfly here to claim gold, adding to the 200 IM and 100 butterfly titles he’s already won.

Urlando came as close as possible to cracking the 1:39 barrier and is now the 9th fastest man in the history of the event, just trailing Zheng Quah‘s 2017 swim of 1:38.83. Urlando is now the fastest performer in this event in the NCAA this season, beating Nicholas Albiero‘s 1:39.53 from the ACC Championships prelims today.

500 and 200 freestyle champion Matt Sates, also of UGA, followed Urlando with a 1:39.88, which makes him the #3 man in the NCAA this season behind Urlando and Albiero. Sates dropped 2 seconds from his prelims time of 1:41.91.

Note: Nicholas Albiero swam a 1:37.92 to win ACC gold moments later, replacing Urlando as the top time in the NCAA.

To round out the top 3, Kentucky senior Mason Wilby dropped a 1:40.15. This marks Wilby’s first time under 1:41 in the event, having established a PB of 1:41.08 during prelims to beat his former best of 1:42.26 from 2021 NCAA Championships.

Women’s 100 back

• NCAA Record: 49.18 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• SEC Record: 50.02 – Rhyan White, Alabama (2020)
• SEC Meet Record: 50.02 – Rhyan White, Alabama (2020)
• NCAA A Standard: 50.93
• NCAA B Standard: 53.94

Top 3:

1. Rhyan White (BAMA) – 50.18
2. Sarah Thompson (UMIZ) – 51.35
3. Caitlin Brooks (UKY) – 51.54

Rhyan White swam her way to a third straight SEC title in the women’s 100 backstroke, hitting a 50.18 to earn gold by more than a second. White has been fairly consistent over the last 3 years at this meet, first hitting a 50.02 conference record in 2020, followed by a 50.36 to win in 2021.

White nearly won the NCAA title last season but was just behind victor Katharine Berkoff who put up a 49.74 for NC State, while White took silver in a 50.21. White was already the second-fastest performer in the NCAA this season with the 50.18 she swam in November, while fellow Olympian Regan Smith holds the top time of 49.97.

Sarah Thompson and Caitlin Brooks‘ 2nd and 3rd place finishes made this year’s SEC podium identical to last year when they finished in the same spots.

Thompson was a 51.27 to take silver in 2021 and took silver here with a 51.35, while Brooks got a repeat bronze medal, improving from a 51.63 last year to a 51.54 this year. Meredith Rees jumped up from 5th last year to 4th place for Missouri this year with a 51.63.

Men’s 100 back

• NCAA Record: 43.49 – Ryan Murphy, Cal (2016)
• SEC Record: 43.87 – Shaine Casas, Texas A&M (2020)
• SEC Meet Record: 44.10 – Zane Waddell, Alabama (2020)
• NCAA A Standard: 44.94
• NCAA B Standard: 47.43

Top 3:

1. Adam Chaney (FLOR) – 44.51
2. Ethan Gogulski (TAMU) – 45.42
3. Matthew Menke (BAMA) – 45.56

Adam Chaney of the University of Florida not only won the SEC record here, but he also beat Florida’s oldest swimming record on the books. Chaney’s 44.51 100 backstroke was enough to undercut Ryan Lochte‘s 44.60 in the event from back in 2006.

Chaney neared the record at last year’s NCAA Championships when he swam a 44.74 to win the B final (a time that would have gotten him 5th overall in the A final). Chaney dipped under 45 seconds in the prelim with a 44.91 but shaved another 0.40 seconds off in the final. Chaney is now the fastest man in the NCAA this season, ahead of Kacper Stokowski‘s 44.79 from November.

While Chaney was the only one to crack 45, Texas A&M’s Ethan Gogulski put up a 45.42 to get into the wall second, while Alabama’s Matthew Menke touched in third place with a 45.56. That swim from Gogulski is 0.33 seconds better than his prelims time and makes him the 7th fastest man in the NCAA for 2021-2022.

Menke meanwhile was already at #9 nationally with a 45.59 from the Tennessee invitational and retains that ranking with his 45.56 swim.

Second seed Nathaniel Stoffle wound up in 4th place with a 45.60, while his brother Aidan Stoffle actually had the 5th-fastest swim of the session of 45.76, which he swam to win the B-final.

Women’s 100 breast

• NCAA Record: 55.73 – Lilly King, Indiana (2019)
• SEC Record: 57.23 – Breeja Larson, Texas A&M (2014)
• SEC Meet Record: 57.28 – Breeja Larson, Texas A&M (2014)
• NCAA A Standard: 58.46
• NCAA B Standard: 1:01.84

Top 3:

1. Mona McSharry (TENN) – 57.50
2. Zoie Hartman (UGA) – 58.35
3. Avery Wiseman (BAMA) – 58.73

Tennessee sophomore Mona McSharry and UGA junior Zoie Hartman went head-to-head in the women’s 100 breaststroke for a second straight year. At last year’s SEC Championships, Hartman came out on top with a winning time of 57.40, while McSharry was second in a 57.82.

This year, the roles got reversed as McSharry walked away victorious for the Lady Vols, producing a 57.40 for the win, while Hartman settled for silver in a 58.35. Both of them raced the event at 2021 NCAAs where McSharry wound up 4th overall in a 57.80 and Hartman was 6th in a 58.25.

Behind the leading duo, Alabama freshman Avery Wiseman also found a spot on the podium with a 58.73, shaving nearly a second off the 59.65 she swam in the morning. Wiseman’s best time and season-best is a 57.79 from the Tennessee invite, which would have been fast enough to beat Hartman here for silver.

Arkansas senior Vanessa Herrman was right behind Wiseman with her time of 58.85 for 4th place. That was Herrmann’s first time under 59 seconds, improving upon her 59.18 in November 2021.

Men’s 100 breast

• NCAA Record: 49.69 – Ian Finerty, Indiana (2018)
• SEC Record: 50.03 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• SEC Meet Record: 50.03 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• NCAA A Standard: 51.59
• NCAA B Standard: 54.27

Top 3:

1. Derek Maas (BAMA) – 50.78
2. Jarel Dillard (TENN) – 51.23
3. Reid Mikuta (AUB) – 51.41

Derek Maas, the Alabama junior, got to the wall in the 100 breaststroke in a 50.78 to pick up a second individual SEC medal this year after his 200 IM silver earlier on in the meet. Maas’ time of 50.78 is more than half a second better than his prelims time and makes him the #2 performer in the NCAA this season behind Max McHugh‘s 50.58.

Maas replaces Texas’ Caspar Corbeau‘s 50.79, which was previously the #2 swim. Maas’ morning swim of 51.35 was a season and personal best, ahead of the 51.38 he put up at the November 2021 Tennessee Invitational.

Jarel Dillard of Tennessee got to the wall in a 51.23 to take the silver medal, while Reid Mikuta of Auburn snagged bronze in a 51.41.

All three of this year’s medalist saw improvement from last year’s SEC Championships when Maas finished 9th overall, Dillard 7th, and Milkuta 10th. Interestingly, last year’s SEC silver medalist Michael Houille and bronze medalist Ben Patton tied for 4th place this year, each hitting a 52.03.

Men’s Platform

• SEC Record: 507.15 – Zhipeng Zeng, Tennessee (2018)
• SEC Meet Record: 496.55 – Juan Celaya Hernandez, LSU (496.55)

Top 3:

1. Juan Hernandez (LSU) – 430.55
2. Bryden Hattie (TENN) – 422.60
3. Emanuel Vazquez (SCAR) – 403.95

Juan Hernandez continued a successful 2022 SEC campaign with a final gold medal in the platform dive. Hernandez scored 430.55 points in the event to out-score Tennesee’s Bryden Hattie by just under 8 points. Hernandez already took the gold medal in the 3-meter dive and followed up with a bronze in the 1-meter.

Bryden Hattie took silver in the platform with 422.60 points, which is actually just shy of his prelims score of 422.60. Hattie was also a medalist in the 3-meter when he won bronze with 459.75 points, but placed 9th overall in the 1-meter.

Emanuel Vazquez got South Carolina onto the podium with his bronze medal-winning dive, raking in 403.95 points. Following Vaquez, Kentucky’s Mingli Zhang put up 394.60 points for 4th place, while Alabama’s Mohamed Farouk got 4th with 368.10 points.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay

• NCAA Record: 3:24.59 – NC State (2021)
• SEC Record: 3:27.18 – Alabama (2021)
• SEC Meet Record: 3:28.43 – Tennessee (2019)

Top 3:

1.  Alabama – 3:26.64
2.  Tennessee – 3:26.88
3.  Kentucky – 3:29.74

Alabama broke the SEC record for yet another medley relay, taking down the 3:27.18 record the team set last year with its time of 3:26.64. The team mostly kept its lineup from the 200 medley relay, with Rhyan White on back (50.44), Avery Wiseman on breast (58.02), and Morgan Scott on fly (51.07). Cora Dupre swam the free leg (47.11), compared to Kalia Antoniou in the 200 medley.

Alabama’s team had an overall negative reaction time, which was more negative than the 200 medley, which sported a -.02 overall reaction. Wiseman had a -0.02 reaction time and Scott had a -0.01, while Dupre had a 0.00 reaction time, yielding an overall -0.03 reaction time.

Tennessee also would’ve swam an SEC record with its 3:26.88, and the Vols’ Tjasa Pintar leapt into the water about .30 ahead of Dupre. However, Pintar’s 47.66 wasn’t enough to keep Dupre from touching first. Josephine Fuller (52.32, back), Mona McSharry (57.15, breast), and Ellen Walshe (49.75, fly) were also on Tennessee’s team, making it 1/2 freshmen. Walshe’s 100 fly made her the 7th-fastest performer of all time in the race.

Alabama’s swim is almost three seconds faster than the 3:29.41 Georgia used to win the SEC title in 2021. This time would’ve earned Alabama third at NCAAs, behind NC State and Virginia.

Kentucky rounded out the top three with Caitlin Brooks (51.46), Bailey Bonnett (58.27), Riley Gaines (51.31), and Sophie Sorensen (48.70).

Men’s 400 Yard Medley Relay

• NCAA Record: 2:59.22 – Texas (2017)
• SEC Record: 3:01.39 – Auburn (2009)
• SEC Meet Record: 3:02.17 – Alabama (2020)

Top 3:

1.  Florida – 3:02.61
2.  Alabama – 3:03.58
3.  Tennessee – 3:04.74

Florida just narrowly missed the SEC record with its winning swim of 3:02.61. The team consisted of Adam Chaney on back (44.56), Amro Al-Wir on breast (51.82), Eric Friese on fly (44.53), and Kieran Smith on free (41.70). Chaney and Friese were the only two swimmers to be on both the 200 and 400 medley relay, with Al-Wir and Smith replacing Dillon Hillis and Alberto Mestre.

Florida’s time is .05 faster than its SEC-winning relay from 2021, which swam in 3:02.66. But it was slower than Florida’s 3:01.51 that won the team 3rd at NCAAs.

Albama touched almost exactly a second after Florida, and the Roll Tide relay featured Matthew Menke (45.60, back), Derek Maas (50.55, breast), Tyler Sesvold (45.55, fly), and Jonathan Berneburg (41.88, free).

Brooks Curry swam a 40.93 as part of his LSU relay, which would make him the 5th-fastest performer in the 100 free. He was the fastest splitter among the teams’ freestylers, and Tennessee’s Jordan Crooks had the 2nd-fastest split with 41.61.

Georgia came in 4th in the event, but Luca Urlando swam a 44.38 100 back, making him the 11th-fastest performer in the event of all-time and the fastest backstroker in this event.

Team Scores After Day 4–Women

1. University of Tennessee – 972.5 points
2. University of Georgia – 754 points
3. University of Kentucky – 712 points
4. University of Alabama – 685 points
5. University of Florida – 616 points
6. Texas A&M University – 510 points
7. Auburn University – 402 points
8. Louisiana State University – 375 points
9. Missouri – 372.5 points
10. University of South Carolina – 357 points
11. University of Arkansas – 292 points
12. Vanderbilt University – 93 points

Team Scores After Day 4–Men

1. University of Florida – 976 points
2. University of Tennessee – 739 points
3. University of Alabama – 711 points
4. University of Georgia – 708 points
5. Texas A&M University – 636.5 points
6. Auburn University – 624.5 points
7. Missouri – 589.5 points
8. University of Kentucky – 462 points
9. Louisiana State University – 422 points
10. University of South Carolina – 336.5 points