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
- Live results
- Live Video
Florida freshman Maxime Rooney not only won gold in the 200 free at his first ever SEC Championships, but he also set a new 17-18 National Age Group Record. Rooney dropped almost a full second off his personal best time to win the race in 1:32.18, shattering the former record of 1:33.05 that he set in this morning’s prelims.
Rooney was well ahead of the field, winning the race by a second and a half. Coming in 2nd was teammate Khader Baqlah (1:33.65), while South Carolina’s Fynn Minuth (1:33.67) finished 3rd.
Rooney’s Splits Comparison by 50:
| Swimmer | 1st 50 | 2nd 50 | 3rd 50 | 4th 50 | Final Time |
| Maxime Rooney (finals) | 21.41 | 23.22 | 23.69 | 23.86 | 1:32.18 |
| Maxime Rooney (prelims) | 21.64 | 23.59 | 23.93 | 23.89 | 1:33.05 |
Rooney’s Splits Comparison by 100:
| Swimmer | 1st 100 | 2nd 100 | Final Time |
| Maxime Rooney (finals) | 44.63 | 47.55 | 1:32.18 |
| Maxime Rooney (prelims) | 45.23 | 47.82 | 1:33.05 |
The big difference maker came on the front half of his race. He was out in 44.63 tonight, which was 6 tenths faster than his opening split of 45.23 from this morning.
Considering the fact that Floridas orivably not fully rested, may I dare say Hass has a challenger?
I picked Rooney to make the Olympic team in the 800 free relay. Unfortunately, he wasn’t on top of his game at Trials. Glad to see him swim fast here. I think he can go faster, he seemed to jam almost every single turn. He might need some prescription googles to help with that depth perception. Did anyone else find it funny when Rowdy said Rooney isn’t a big guy on the stream last night? He said he’s only 6’3″. What does Rowdy consider a big guy then?
Tremendous swim by an outstanding young man !
Great swim from Maxime Rooney.
US men’s 4X200 free relay needs new talents at the international level with MP retired and Lochte’s future level questionable.
With Haas, Rooney or Conger who are not old and the big talents who arrive from juniors like Kibler or Walker, the US men’s 4X200 free relay is in very good hands for the years to come. Probably too early for next summer’s world championships but the timing should be perfect to peak in 2020. It will be necessary to beat a strong British team and especially a strong Japanese team at home.
Where is Lochte training now?
Rooney, Conger, Haas and maybe Hoffer?
Hoffer, as of now, has not shown that he was be a 200 free asset
Townley haas was 1:30 as a freshman. He was just out of NAG range and probably couldn’t have been that much more physically matured
Not to belittle this swim at all tho!
Didbt Rooney beat haas in the Philip 66 match ?
Can’t believe he is only 18!
As soon as I read about him swimming 200 LCM no goggles under 1:50 I knew he had serious grit. That is seriously one impressive swim.
Alas, there was a time when everyone swam 200 LCM without goggles. And entire two-a-day workouts, with much longer yardage, day after day. THAT was “serious grit.”
Although back then none of them broke 1:50 of course, which was the point of the post. First time under 1:50 was 1979 which was well into the goggle era
Phelps practically went 1:50 butterfly with his goggles filled with water. Wedge starts, tech suit jammers, lane lines, deep pools. Helluva a lot easier to break 1:50 now than in 1972 when Spitz went 1:52 goggle-less.
Wow awesome! People swam a lot slower without goggles! And they trained with it!
Of course you can get used to it. But Rooney wasnt, he persevered, and got a really, really good time.
True.
He is near sighted and without prescription googles yes.
Yes, he shattered the record by nearly a second.
USA needs more good freestylers with MP retired.
Congratulations, Maxime!