Kensey McMahon Posts Lifetime Best 1:56.97 200 Fly as Alabama Sweeps LSU

LSU vs ALABAMA (MEN’S & WOMEN’S DUAL)

• Friday, November 4, 2022
• LSU Natatorium, Baton Rouge, LA
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results

TEAM SCORES

MEN

1. Alabama – 155
2. LSU – 139

WOMEN

1. Alabama – 182
2. LSU – 118

LSU hosted Alabama for a combined SEC dual meet on Friday, falling the Crimson Tide in a lopsided 182-118 decision in the women’s meet, and losing a close fight on the men’s side, 155-139.

WOMEN’S RECAP

In one of the more unexpected swims of the meet, Alabama distance star Kensey McMahon won the women’s 200 fly decisively, speeding to a 1:56.97. The swim marked a huge personal best for McMahon, whose previous best stood at 1:59.12 from a dual meet with Kentucky in December of 2020.

In less surprising results, McMahon also won the 1000 free and 500 free in dominant fashion. Firstly, she roared to a 9:41.86 in the 1000, touching first by 29 seconds. McMahon was also fantastic in the 500 free, clocking a 4:46.15, nine seconds faster than anyone else in the field.

The women’s 400 free relay was a notable race, as LSU was able to best Alabama’s high-flying sprint crew. Reagan Osborne (51.09), Maggie MacNeil (47.35), Katarina Milutinovich (49.83), and Michaela De Villiers (50.30) combined for a 3:18.57. Alabama’s Kalia Antoniou (49.95), Morgan Scott (49.08), Cora Dupre (50.24), and Charlotte Rosendale (49.78) teamed up for a 3:19.05. Of course, MacNeil’s 47.35 split jumps out, as it well should, but the rest of the LSU relay was solid as well.

MacNeil was also great individually on Friday, winning all three of her events. It started in the 100 back, where she swam a 51.41. She beat Scott and Rhyan White by large margins, with Scott taking second in 52.95 and White third with a 53.14.

MacNeil then went on to swim a 22.28 in the 50 free, narrowly besting Antoniou, who touched second in 22.36. Her final individual race came in the 100 free, where MacNeil swam a 48.81. That time, she beat Antoniou by a wider margin, as Antoniou came in second with a 49.36.

Though she came in third in the 100 back, White would go on to clock a 1:55.61 in the 200 back, finishing as the only swimmer in the field under 2:00. She also won the 100 fly, where she posted a 54.39.

Alabama’s Avery Wiseman was excellent in the 100 breast, swimming a 1:00.81. Wiseman swam the fastest split in the field on both 50s, going 28.96 on the first 50 and 31.85 on the second. Wiseman also took the 200 breast, swimming a 2:11.01.

LSU’s Reagan Osborne won the 200 free ion 1:49.08, while Alabama’s Diana Petkova took the 200 IM in 2:01.37.

Alabama was dominant in the 200 medley relay, seeing White (24.70), Wiseman (27.73), Scott (23.25), and Antoniou (21.82) combined for a 1:37.50.

MEN’S RECAP

Alabama kicked off the meet with a big win in the 200 medley relay, with Matthew Menke (21.58), Derek Maas (23.48), Bernardo De Almeida (21.16), and Tim Korstanje (19.83) teaming up for a 1:26.05.

Alabama would also win the 400 free relay at the end of the meet, though that was a much closer race. Kaique Alves (43.61), Charlie Hawke (42.97), Maas (43.84), and Menke (43.60) swam a 2:54.02. LSU was right there with them, as Andrew Garon (44.29), Brooks Curry (42.08), Jack Jannasch (44.31), and Noah Cumby (43.61) posted a 2:54.29.

LSU’s Brooks Curry, one of the premier sprinters in the NCAA, swept the sprint free events on the day. Curry kicked things off with a 1:35.41 in the 200 free, splitting 21.87, 24.26, 24.86, and 24.42, all four of which were the fastest splits in the field on their respective 50s.

Ahead of the first diving break, Curry also swam a 19.60 in the 50 free, touching first by 0.81 seconds. Curry would then go on to swim a 43.56 in the 100 free, out-splitting the field on both 50s of the race.

Maas swept the breaststroke events for Alabama, posting a 53.78 to win the 100 breast. He pulled away from the field quickly, splitting 25.13 on the first 50, then coming home in 28.65. Maas later clocked a 2:00.93 to win the 200 breast.

Menke swept the backstroke events. He won convincingly in the 100 back, touching in 47.16, 1.62 seconds ahead of the next-fastest swimmer int he field.

In the 200 back, Menke would tie with Alabama teammate Eric Stelmar. Both swimmers finished in 1:46.74, touching just ahead of LSU’s Griffin Curtis (1:46.79).

LSU freshman Stuart Higdon had a great race in the 500 free, getting out to an early lead and holding on to win in 4:26.19. Higdon came in second in the 1000 free, swimming a 9:15.36. Alabama’s Victor Johansson took the event in 9:12.59.

Bama’s Charlie Hawke won the 200 fly in 1:47.83, while LSU freshman Pawel Uryniuk took the 100 fly in 47.83.