2017 SEC Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2017 SEC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, February 14 – Saturday, February 18
• Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Knoxville, TN (Eastern Time Zone)
• Prelims 10AM / Finals 6PM
• Defending Champion: Florida men (4x), Texas A&M women (results)
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheet
• Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet
• Live results
• Live Video

The first set of individual events are set to take place this morning at the 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee. Swimmers will compete in the 500 free, 200 free, and 50 free this morning, while divers will compete in the women’s 1-meter.

Texas A&M holds a narrow lead over Georgia after day 1, with just 3 points separating them. Not far behind are the 3rd place Missouri Tigers. The Aggies also lead on the men’s side after getting their 200 medley relay on the podium and 3 divers into the championship final last night. Sitting in 2nd is defending champion Florida, followed by LSU and Tennessee.

WOMEN’S 500 FREE

1. Sarah Gibson, Texas A&M, 4:40.94
2. Ashley Neidigh, Auburn, 4:41.36
3. Sycerika McMahon, Texas A&M, 4:42.47
4. Kira Zubar, Missouri, 4:43.00
5. Kendal Casey, Kentucky, 4:43.05
6. Geena Freriks, Kentucky, 4:43.47
7. Rachel Zilinskas, Georgia, 4:43.72
8. Ayumi Macias, Arkansas, 4:43.89

Texas A&M’s Sarah Gibson and Auburn’s Ashley Neidigh battled in the penultimate heat of the 500 free prelims, setting themselves up for another showdown as the top 2 seeds for finals. The Aggies have set themselves up well with 2 championships finalists, as Sycerika McMahon was the 3rd fastest swimmer this morning. Also getting 2 in were the Kentucky women with Kendal Casey and Geena Freriks.

Georgia’s Rachel Zilinskas will bring some representation for the Bulldogs. This has typically been a big event for Georgia, who had 4 championship finalists last season before graduating Hali Flickinger and Brittany Maclean.

MEN’S 500 FREE

1. Mitch D’Arrigo, Florida, 4:12.43
2. Fynn Minuth, South Carolina, 4:12.94
3. Akaram Mahmoud, South Carolina, 4:14.34
4. Walker Higgins, Georgia, 4:14.43
5. Jay Litherland, Georgia, 4:17.23
6. Ben Lawless, Florida, 4:17.28
7. Kevin Litherland, Georgia, 4:18.16
8. Isaac Jones, Kentucky, 4:18.59

Florida All-American Mitch D’Arrigo led the way through prelims of the 500 free, while Ben Lawless got into the final at 6th to give the Gators 2 finalists. South Carolina’s distance group impressed, with Fynn Minuth putting up a big swim to take 2nd seed in 4:12.94 ahead of teammate Akaram Mahmoud (4:14.34). The Bulldogs should get big points in this race, with Georgia’s Walker Higgins, Jay Litherland, and Kevin Litherland maing it into the top 8.

There were a handful of men in the 4:18-range, with Kentucky’s Isaac Jones closing out the top 8. Florida freshman Maxime Rooney just missed out with a 4:18.66 for 9th, as did Missouri’s Nicholas Davis with a 4:18.76 for 10th.

WOMEN’S 200 IM

1. Meghan Small, Tennessee, 1:54.86
2. Sydney Pickrem, Texas A&M, 1:55.23
3. Lisa Bratton, Texas A&M, 1:56.23
4. Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo, Texas A&M, 1:56.60
5. Bethany Galat, Texas A&M, 1:56.69
6. Asia Seidt, Kentucky, 1:56.70
7. Emma Barksdale, South Carolina, 1:56.84
8. Meaghan Raab, Georgia, 1:57.37

Tennessee freshman standout Meghan Small put on a show for the home crowd this morning, charging to a 1:54.86 to take top seed. The Aggies set up a huge points haul behind her, qualifying in the next 4 spots with Sydney Pickrem, Lisa Bratton, Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo, and Bethany Galat. Kentucky freshman Asia Seidt, who came in as the top seed, will also be in the running tonight after taking 6th in prelims.

MEN’S 200 IM

1. Chase Kalisz, Georgia, 1:42.84
2. Mark Szaranek, Florida, 1:43.00
3. Joe Patching, Auburn, 1:43.32
4. (T-4) Gunnar Bentz, Georgia, 1:44.24
5. (T-4) Jan Switkowski, Florida, 1:44.24
6. Anton McKee, Alabama, 1:44.47
7. Michael Duderstadt, Auburn, 1:44.80
8. Alex Lebed, Florida, 1:44.86

Georgia’s Chase Kalisz got the ball rolling with a 1:42.84 to lead 200 IM prelims, followed closely by Florida All-American Mark Szaranek and Auburn’s defending SEC champion Joe Patching (1:43.32). Florida will have 3 in tonight’s final with Jan Switkowski and Alex Lebed making it in as well.

Gunnar Bentz tied for 4th seed to give the Bulldogs 2 ups, while Auburn’s Michael Duderstadt took 7th to give the Tigers another finalist.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

1. Olivia Smoliga, Georgia, 21.82
2. (T-2) Chantal Van Landeghem, Georgia, 22.00
3. (T-2) Madeline Banic, Tennessee, 22.00
4. Bailey Scott, Alabama, 22.21
5. Kira Toussaint, Tennessee, 22.24
6. Beryl Gastaldello, Texas A&M, 22.32
7. Leah Troskot, LSU, 22.39
8. Haylee Knight, LSU, 22.43

Georgia sprint stars Olivia Smoliga and Chantal Van Landeghem turned in a 1-2 finish in prelims, with Smoliga posting the only sub-22 of the morning. Tennessee and LSU each got 2 in. Madeline Banic tied for 2nd and Kira Toussaint touched 5th to give the Vols some representation. The Tigers’ Leah Troskot and Haylee Knight closed out the championship final qualifications in 7th and 8th.

MEN’S 50 FREE

1. Caeleb Dressel, Florida, 18.51
2. Cory Bolleter, Texas A&M, 19.04
3. Kyle Decoursey, Tennessee, 19.21
4. Zane Waddell, Alabama, 19.35
5. Michael Chadwick, Missouri, 19.41
6. Peter Holoda, Auburn, 19.50
7. (T-7) Zach Apple, Auburn, 19.59
8. (T-7) Enzo Martinez Scarpe, Florida, 19.59

American Record holder Caeleb Dressel shot off the blocks en route to an 18.51 this morning, posting the only sub-19 of the field. Texas A&M’s Cory Bolleter nearly accomplished a sub-19 swim himself, clocking in at 19.04 for 2nd ahead of Tennessee’s Kyle Decoursey. Alabama freshman Zane Waddell and Missouri sprint stud Michael Chadwick also touched in 19-low to round out the top 5.

Editor’s note: Auburn’s Ashley Neidigh is the sister of author Lauren Neidigh.