2023 SEC Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2023 SEC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, February 14 – Saturday, February 18, 2023
• Rec Center Natatorium, College Station, TX
• Defending Champions:
  • Women: Tennessee (1x)
  • Men: Florida (10x)
• Championship Central
• Women’s Fan Guide
• Men’s Fan Guide
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Video
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

Night 2 Heat Sheets

We’ve got our first individual finals tonight after prelims this morning and relay finals last night. Kicking off the night will be the women’s 500 free. Tennessee’s Kristen Stege swam the fastest time this morning ahead of Florida’s Emma Weyant. Stege currently holds the top time in the 1650 free in the NCAA this season and Emma Weyant is in her first individual final for Florida.

The men’s 500 free was led by Florida’s Alfonso Mestre and Jake Mitchell this morning. Top seed heading into the meet Jake Magahey was third this morning, but is currently the #2 swimmer in the NCAA this season in the event and was second at NCAAs in the event last year.

Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller will be in lane 4 tonight in the 200 IM. Notably, Fuller was 14th in the event last year. Baylor Nelson of Texas A&M swam the top time this morning on the men’s side. Nelson swam a personal best this morning, cracking the 1:42 mark for the first time.

After swimming the fastest 50 back in history last night, Maggie MacNeil is the top seed in the women’s 50 free here. She was slightly off her best of 21.03 which she swam at midseason this year but her cracking the 21 second mark is something to watch out for tonight.

The men’s 50 free will be a tight battle. Jordan Crooks (Tennessee) became the second fastest swimmer in the event ever this morning but not far behind him was Josh Liendo of Florida. The defending NCAA champion Brooks Curry of LSU will also be in the A final.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE RELAY

• NCAA Record: 1:24.47, Virginia – 2022 ACC Championships
• SEC Record: 1:25.41, Auburn – 2020 SEC Championships
• SEC Championship Record: 1:25.41, Auburn (2020)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:28.43

Top 8:

1. LSU — 1:26.70
2. Alabama — 1:27.21
3. Florida — 1:27.28
4. Arkansas — 1:28.34
5. South Carolina — 1:28.65
6. Auburn — 1:28.70
7. Texas A&M — 1:29.08
8. Tennessee — 1:29.30

The LSU women put up a massive win in the 200 free relay, taking home their first SEC relay title since 1986. The quartet of Katarina Milutinovich (22.34), Maggie MacNeil (20.44), Peyton Curry (22.23), and Miaela De Villiers (21.69) combined for a time of 1:26.70 that smashed their team record time by nearly a second.

Alabama’s Kalia Antoniou touched the wall first leading off with a 21.74 leadoff, while Mona McSharry of Tennessee was second in 22.00. However, MacNeil charged past the field on her leg, giving LSU the lead and recording the second-fastest 50 free relay split of all time (only Anna Hopkin’s 20.27 is faster). LSU held onto the lead after MacNeil’s leg, and won by 0.51 seconds.

In second was Alabama’s Antoniou, Emily Jones (22.32), Diana Petkova (21.60), and Kailyn Winter (21.55), while Florida’s Ekaterina Nikon0va (22.21), Katie Mack (21.62), Talia Bates (21.76), and Micayla Cronk (21.69) came in third.

MEN’S 200 FREE RELAY

• NCAA Record: 1:14.08, Auburn – 2009 NCAA Championships
• SEC Record: 1:14.08, Auburn – 2009 NCAA Championships
• SEC Championship Record: 1:15.18, Florida (2022)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:16.80

Top 8:

1. Florida — 1:14.19
2. Tennessee — 1:15.34
3. Auburn — 1:15.94
4. Missouri — 1:16.39
5. Texas A&M — 1:16.64
6. Georgia — 1:17.10
7. Alabama — 1:17.10
8. South Carolina — 1:17.43

Florida was just 0.11 seconds off the NCAA record tonight, as Macquire McDuff (19.09), Josh Liendo (18.02), Adam Chaney (18.26), and Alberto Mestre (18.82) combined for a time of 1:14.19 that crushed the SEC meet record set last year by the Gators.

Jordan Crooks of Tennessee gave his team the early lead with a 18.46 leadoff, about two-tenths off his best time of 18.25 set this morning. Gui Caribe‘s 18.33 continued Tennessee’s lead, although Chaney and Mestre’s legs for Florida helped them overtake Tennsssee’s Micah Chambers (19.35) and Scott Scanlon (19.20). Tennessee finished second in a time of 1:15.34, 0.02 seconds off what they went at midseasons.

In third was Auburn’s Logan Tirheimer (19.29), Kalle Maikinnen (18.77), Mialis Deliyannis (19.09), and Nate Stoffle (18.79).

Texas A&M had a big swim in the ‘B’ final, clocking a 1:16.64 to get under the NCAA ‘A’ cut and finishing fifth.

Other notable splits from this relay included Brooks Curry‘s 18.56 for LSU and Jack Dahlgren‘s 18.76 for Missouri

WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky (STAN) – 2017 NCAA Championships
• SEC Record: 4:32.53, Brittany MacLean (UGA) – 2014 NCAA Championships
• SEC Championship Record: 4:33.10, Brittany MacLean (UGA) – 2016
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:35.76
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 4:43.08

Top 8:

1. Rachel Stege, Georgia — 4:36.31
2. Kristen Stege, Tennessee — 4:36.35
3. Emma Weyant, Florida — 4:37.96
4. Tylor Mathieu, Florida — 4:39.21
5. Kensey McMahon, Alabama — 4:40.03
6. Kaitlyn Wheeler, Kentucky — 4:40.17
7. Jillia Barczyk, Georgia — 4:40.63
8. Hayden Miller, Florida — 4:41.15

There was a sibling showdown in the women’s 500 free, as Rachel Stege beat her older sister, Kristen Stege, by just 0.04 seconds.

Rachel Stege led throughout the entire race, and Kristen Stege and Emma Weyant were neck-to-neck for the first 400 yards. However, K. Stege charged ahead of Weyant on the final 100, out splitting her 54.85 to 56.13. K. Stege nearly caught up to her sister towards the end, outsplitting her 27.67 to 28.65 on the second to last 50, but R. Stege closed in a 26.88 compared to K. Stege’s 27.18 to hold on for the win.

The Stege sisters set the second and third fastest times in the NCAA this year, just behind Erica Sullivan’s 4:35.88. Weyant finished third with a 4:37.96, close to her 4:37.23 that won ACCs last year.

MEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 4:06.32, Kieran Smith (FLOR) – 2020 SEC Championships
• SEC Record: 4:06.32, Kieran Smith (FLOR) – 2020 SEC Championships
• SEC Championship Record: 4:06.32, Kieran Smith (FLOR) – 2020
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:11.40
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 4:14.96

Top 8:

1. Jake Mitchell, Florida — 4:09.85
2. Jake Magahey, Georgia — 4:10.03
3. Alfosno Mestre, Florida — 4:10.15
4. Giov Linscheer, Florida — 4:12.69
5. Eric Brown, Florida — 4:12.95
6. Michael Bonson, Auburn — 4:13.30
7. Charlie Hawke, Alabama — 4:15.14
8. Victor Johansson, Alabama — 4:17.64

Even without Bobby Finke and Kieran Smith, the dominance of the Florida Gators in the 500 free showed once again, as they took four out of the top five finishes in the men’s 500 free.

Alfonso Mestre had the lead for the first 400 yards of the race, but the closing speed of Jake Magahey and Jake Mitchell came out on the last 100, as Magahey split 49.39 and Mitchell split 48.99 to overtake Mestre (who split 50.25 to close). Mitchell swam a massive best time of 4:09.85, beating out the 4:12.88 he clocked last year at Big Tens. Magahey was slightly off his season best of 4:09.83, whereas Mestre was less than a second off his PB of 4:09.74 from 2022 NCAAs.

Florida freshmen Gio Linscheer and Eric Brown finished fourth and fifth respectively. They both recorded big drops today, as Linscheer came into the meet with a best time of 4:19.95 while brown had a 4:17.67.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:50.08, Alex Walsh (UVA) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• SEC Record: 1:51.62, Meghan Small (TENN) – 2019 SEC Championships
• SEC Championship Record: 1:51.62, Meghan Small (TENN) – 2019
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:53.66
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:56.85

Top 8:

1. Zoie Hartman, Georgia — 1:53.58
2. Josephine Fuller, Tennessee — 1:55.01
3. Lauren Poole, Kentucky — 1:55.12
4. Zoe Dixon, Florida — 1:55.23
5. Cat Wright, Alabama — 1;55.99
6. Sara Stotler, Tennessee — 1:56.69
7. Victoria Kwan, South Carolina — 1:58.05
8. Diana Petkova, Alabama — 1:59.35

Top seed Josephine Fuller as well as Lauren Poole were 1-2 at the 100 mark, being seperated by just 0.09 seconds. However, Zoie Hartman used her breaststroke prowess to her advantage and outsplit Fuller and Poole by over a second in breaststroke (32.74 split) and by nearly a second on freestyle (27.65), winning in a time of 1:53.58. Hartmann had the fastest free split of the field, and the second-fastest breast split.

Hartman’s time was one of her fastest performances ever, and nearly half a second off her best time of 1:53.05 set back in 2020.

Fuller finished second with a 1:55.01, just under a second slower than her prelims time of 1:55.01. Poole finished third with a time of 1:55.12, beating out her personal best of 1:55.33 from midseasons.

Florida freshman Zoe Dixon swam a big time of 1:55.23, dropping 0.62 seconds from her best time of 1:55.85 set in prelims. Headed into this meet, she had never been under 1:56.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:37.69, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• SEC Record: 1:38.13, Caeleb Dressel (FLOR) – 2018 SEC Championships
• SEC Championship Record: 1:38.13, Caeleb Dressel (FLOR) – 2018
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:41.22
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:43.36

Top 8:

1. Baylor Nelson, Texas A&M — 1:40.86
2. Koko Bratanov, Texas A&M — 1;42.50
3. Ben Patton, Missouri — 1:42.98
4. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero, Florida — 1:43.09
5. Dillon Hillis, Florida — 1;43.19
6. Zach Hils, Georgia — 1:43.52
7. Derek Maas, Alabama — 1:43.65
8. Julian Smith, Florida — 1:44.12

Baylor Nelson touched 0.08 seconds behind Zach Hils after the butterfly leg, but he was in the lead of the rest of the race. Where he made a major move was on breaststroke, where he split 28.81 and gained a near two second advantage over the rest of the field. He ended up winning with a time of 1:40.86, dropping from his best time of 1:41.71 from prelims.

Nelson also split 25.15 on backstroke, which was the fastest split in the field.

Finishing in second was Nelson’s teammate, Koko Bratanov. He swam a 1:42.50, which was slightly off his prelims time of 1:42.18. Missouri’s Ben Patton rounded out the top three with a 1:42.98 for third.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 20.83, Gretchen Walsh (UVA) – 2023 ACC Championships
• SEC Record: 21.03, Erika Brown (TENN) / Maggie MacNeil (LSU) – 2020 SEC Championships / 2022 Art Adamson Invitational
• SEC Championship Record: 21.03, Erika Brown (TENN) – 2020
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 21.66
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 22.16

Top 8:

1. Maggie MacNeil, LSU — 20.98
2. Mona McSharry, Tennessee — 21.74
3. Kalia Antoniou, Alabama — 21.75
4. Andrea Sansores, Arkansas — 21.97
5. Ekaterina Nikonova — 22.07
6. Micayla Cronk, Florida — 22.08
7. Katie Mack, Florida — 22.14
8. Chloe Stepanek, Texas A&M — 22.22

Powered by a massive second underwater, Maggie MacNeil raced her way to a 20.98 50 free, breaking her own SEC record. She is the fourth woman (after Abbey Weitzeil, Kate Douglass, and Gretchen Walsh) in history to go under 21 seconds in the 50 free, and 0.15 seconds off of Walsh’s newly set NCAA and US Open record.

In second was Tennessee’s Mona McSharry, who set a personal best time of 21.74 and went under 22 seconds for the first time ever. Kalia Antoniou came in third, clocking a time that was just 0.01 seconds slower than her relay leadoff from earlier tonight.

The fourth woman sub-22 in this race was Andrea Sansores, who improved from her best time of 22.36 go to 21.97.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (FLOR) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• SEC Record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (FLOR) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• SEC Championship Record: 18.23, Caeleb Dressel (FLOR) – 2016
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.88
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 19.28

Top 8:

1. Jordan Crooks, Tennessee — 17.93
2. Josh Liendo, Florida — 18.39
3. Adam Chaney, Florida — 18.71
4. Gui Caribe, Tennessee — 18.79
5. Macguire McDuff, Florida — 18.95
6. Brooks Curry, LSU — 18.99
7. Logan Tirheimer, Auburn/Dillon Downing, Georgia — 19.17

And so, it happened. Jordan Crooks became the second swimmer to ever get under the 18-second barrier in the men’s 50 free, going 17.93 to break Caeleb Dressel’s SEC meet record. He also recorded the third fastest performance of all time, behind two of Dressel’s swims.

Top Performances of All-Time, Men’s 50 Free:

1. Caeleb Dressel, Florida — 17.63
2. Caeleb Dressel, Florida — 17.81
3. Jordan Crooks, Tennessee — 17.93
4. Caeleb Dressel, Florida — 18.11
5. Caeleb Dressel, Florida — 18.20.

Previously, Dressel held the seven fastest performances of all-time in the 50 free. Now, he only has two.

Finishing second was Florida’s Josh Liendo, who added 0.04 seconds from prelims and went 18.39. His prelims swim made him the sixth-fastest performer of all-time.

Adam Chaney was third with a 18.71, dropping 0.04 seconds from his best time. Gui Caribe also set a personal best for fourth, dropping 0.2 seconds from the 18.91 he swam at midseasons.

Notably, six out of the eight men in the 50 free ‘A’ final went under 19 seconds.

WOMEN’S 1-METER DIVING – FINALS

• SEC Record: 375.53, Brooke Schultz (UARK) – 2019 Arkansas vs Houston
• SEC Championship Record: 364.30, Lauren Reedy (MIZ) – 2017

Top 8:

1. Brooke Schultz, South Carolina — 345.05
2. Maha Amer, Florida — 337.85
3. Chiara Pellacani, LSU – 330.95
4. Montserrat Lavenant, LSU — 328.50
5. Joslyn Oakley, Texas A&M — 295.40
6. Meghan Wenzel, Georgia — 294.05
7. Kyndal Knight, Kentucky — 293.35
8. Sophie Verzyl, South Carolina — 275.25

After winning the three meter last night, South Carolina’s Brooke Schultz took home her second SEC title of the night by winning the one-meter. Maha Amer of Florida came in second, while the LSU duo of Chiara Pellacani and Monssterrat Lavenant placed third and fourth.

Scores After Day Two:

Women: 

1. Florida — 502
2. LSU — 378
3. Tennessee — 375
4. Georgia — 329
5. Alabama — 306
6. Kentucky — 300
7. South Carolina — 286
8. Texas A&M — 226
9. Auburn — 222
10. Arkansas — 205
11. Missouri — 177
12. Vanderbilt — 94

Men:

1. Florida — 542.5
2. Auburn/Texas A&M — 380
3. Tennessee — 347
4. Georgia — 268.5
5. Alabama — 249
6. Missouri — 214.5
7. South Carolina — 203.5
8. Kentucky — 162
9. LSU — 131