2020 SEC Swimming & Diving CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, February 18 – Saturday, February 22, 2020
- Auburn, AL – James E. Martin Aquatic Center
- Prelims/Finals: 9:30 AM/5:30 PM Wed-Sat, 10/4:20PM Tues (Central Standard Time)
- Defending Men’s Champion: Florida (7x) (results)
- Defending Women’s Champion: Texas A&M (4x)
- Live results
- Live Video – SEC Network
- Championship Central
- Men’s Fan Guide
- Women’s Fan Guide
- Psych Sheets
Pre-cut psych sheets for the 2020 SEC Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships have been sent out. These pre-cut psych sheets don’t force coaches to cut their rosters down, nor entries-per-swimmer down, to the maximums, but do start to give a few clues about where coaches are pointing their swimmers for the meet.
Each team is allowed a maximum of 22 athletes at the meet. Starting last year, that maximum became indiscriminate between swimmers and divers – coaches can enter as many as they want of either, and each athlete counts as 1 regardless of whether they are swimmers or divers.
Tennessee senior Erika Brown, a contender for national swimmer of the year this season, is entered in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 fly, and 100 back. Those were all of the events she was ever going to swim (though she did race the 200 IM mid-season), so that doesn’t tell us much.
Where we did learn a lot, though, is for National Teamer and Texas A&M Aggie Shaine Casas. He’s the top seed in the 100 back, 200 back, and 200 IM at the meet. While those are clearly his best events so far this season, and the same 3 that he swam at last year’s SEC Championships, last season he shifted to the 100 and 200 fly at the NCAA Championships. He’s also the conference’s 4th-best swimmer in the 50 free this season, 5th-best in the 100 free, 2nd best in the 200 free (behind only his teammate Mark Theall), and top-ranked 100 butterflier.
Other Entry Notes:
- Kieran Smith, a sophomore at Florida, is one of the 16 fastest swimmers in the SEC in 8 different events. In true Florida fashion, he’s pre-entered in all 8 events.
- Kentucky’s Asia Seidt will swim the 100 back, 200 back, and 200 IM. That was always her likely entry list, with the most plausible curveball being the 200 free, where she’s the 6th-best in the conference this season.
- Missouri’s Sarah Thompson is entered in the 50 free, 100 back, 200 back, and 100 fly. She is the 3rd seed in the 50 free and 100 back and the 6th seed in the 200 back. Interesting, she has taken no option for the 100 free, where she would be the 6th seed. That race is swum on the last day of the meet, along with the 200 back.
- Danny Kovac of Missouri will swim the 100 fly, 100 breast, and 200 IM. While in most league meets, and NCAAs, the 100 fly and 100 breast come on the same day, at the SEC Championships, they don’t. He’s also the 5th-best 50 freestyler in the conference this season (which would be 4th with no Shaine Casas).
- Missouri’s Nick Alexander won’t swim the 500 free, where he’s the 5th-best swimmer in the conference this season, but has left the door open to choose from among the 100 back (7th seed), 200 back (4th seed), 200 IM (3rd seed), and 200 fly (6th seed). He was 2nd at SECs last season in the 200 IM.
Noticed a Typo under the Alexander part. Says he’s swimming the 500. I don’t think that’s one of his events?
It says he’s not swimming the 500.
I get that part, his best 500 time is 4:37 if you check deck pass. Maybe you’re confusing him being seated as the 5th best in that event this year with another mizzou swimmer?
Perhaps…sprinter Doobs?
Looking at the men’s side, I believe it will come down to Mizzou, Florida, and TAMU. I believe that despite concerns, Florida will have depth show up given their history. Mizzou and TAMU generally lead the relays, and TAMU has diving to make up for some weaker swimming events. Mizzou is well rounded, and out of the contending teams comes closest to TAMU on the diving boards. All I can say is that this is the most interesting SEC Champs in a long time.
I sort of agree with your analysis, I think. Florida shows up for SECs and finds ways to win. Their depth, of course, has taken a hit this year with redshirts, injuries, and transfers. A&M men are the ‘hot hand’ in the conference, but I wonder if they’ve had enough time to recruit the depth needed to win this title. That being said, they’re doing a really good job of ‘making swimmers faster,’ so maybe they’ll outkick the coverage.
I’m really excited to see Kieran Smith’s 200 free. I want to see someone race Drew Kibler at the big show.
Yes! Both are doing really well. NCAA’s will be exciting
Smith and Kibler would be a footnote in the 200Fr and same for Shane in the 100 Back if dean was swimming
I don’t think “IFS” are being allowed to race as yet😄😄
Kieran Smith could have 9 top 16 events if he had swum the mile after seeing his 1000 unsuited performance.
Question for SwimSwam, or those in the know, does the swimulator take into account limiting swimmers like Kieran to only the meet limit on events or does he score out in each of these 8 events? My guess is yes on limiting, but I did not find a quick answer looking around.
It limits to the 3 per swimmer.
Talia Bates is entered in the meet. That’s a good sign.