Feb. 18, 2011
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Twenty-four student-athletes advanced to Friday night's finals session following the conclusion the preliminaries at the 2011 SEC Swimming Championships on the campus of the University of Florida. Seventeen Tigers will swim in the championship finals, while seven will compete in the consolation finals.
"Another strong performance on a crucial day of competition for the team," head coach Brett Hawke said. "Day three is when we need the best out of our student-athletes and we got that this morning. We're happy with the way the morning went and we have a big night tonight."
Junior Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace continued her record-breaking ways as the qualified first in the 100 fly in an Auburn-record time of 51.98. The Nassau, Bahamas, product was the 2010 SEC champion in the event.
Also qualifying for the 100 fly championship final was freshman Olivia Scott, who touched in eighth in a career-best time of 52.95. Sophomore Lindsey Norberg was 12th in 54.30 and is set to compete in the consolation final.
The Auburn men qualified two to the 100 fly championship final in sophomore Tony Cox and senior Adam Brown. Cox was fifth in 46.79 and Brown finished seventh in 46.90. Senior Andrew Mitchell and freshman Marcelo Chierighini reached the consolation final as Mitchell was ninth (47.31) and Chierighini was 12th (47.68).
Cox put together an outstanding swim in the 100 back to qualify first overall in a career-best time of 45.72. Seniors Jared White and Kohlton Norys finished third (46.75) and sixth (47.13), respectively. Junior Max Murphy snagged the eighth and final spot of the championship final with a time of 47.26.
Freshman Emily Bos swam a career-best time of 52.99 to qualify fifth in the women's 100 back. Senior Erica Meissner and sophomore Hannah Riordan advanced to the consolation final as Meissner was 13th (54.63) and Riordan was 14th (54.65).
A trio of Auburn women reached the championship final of the 100 breast as junior Micah Lawrence led the way with the field's second-fastest time of 59.95. Lauren Norberg had the fifth-fastest time of 1:00.38, while her twin sister Lindsey was eighth in 1:01.06.
Auburn's Stuart Ferguson and Adam Klein earned spots in the men's 100 breast championship final. Ferguson logged a career-best time of 53.23 to qualify second, while Klein had the sixth-fastest time of 54.54. Freshman Chris Manning was tied with a time of 54.93, but lost the swim-off and will compete in the consolation final.
Senior Caitlin Geary and sophomore Becca Jones put together season-best performances in the 200 free and both qualified for the championship final. Geary was seventh in 1:45.82, while Jones was eighth in 1:46.61.
On the men's side, freshman Zane Grothe continued to have a great conference meet as he qualified for his second championship final of the meet with a sixth-place finish in the 200 free in a career-best time of 1:35.51. Junior Karl Krug reached the consolation finals with the ninth-fastest time of 1:36.01.
Sophomore Kyle Owens advanced to his second championship final of the meet as the Johnson City, Tenn., product was seventh in the 400 IM with a time of 3:49.32. Freshman Nimrod Hayet had the 13th-fastest time of 3:50.55.
Friday's finals kick off at 6 p.m. ET from the Stephen C. O'Connell Center with the 400 IM, following with the 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 400 medley relay. Live results and live streaming are available at www.gatorzone.com.
Auburn Swimming and Diving
2010 SEC Swimming Championships - Day Three Preliminaries
Friday, February 18, 2011
Stephen C. O'Connell Center; Gainesville, Fla.
Auburn Top Finishers - Women: 100 Fly - Championship Final: 1. Vanderpool-Wallace (51.98); 8. Scott (52.95); Consolation Final: 12. Li. Norberg (54.30); 200 Free - Championship Final: 7. Geary (1:45.82); 8. Jones (1:45.61); 100 Breast - Championship Final: 2. Lawrence (59.95); 5. La. Norberg (1:00.38); 8. Li. Norberg (1:01.06); 100 Back - Championship Final: 5. Bos (52.99); Consolation Final: 13. Meissner (54.63); 14. Riordan (54.65).
Men: 400 IM - Championship Final: 7. Owens (3:49.32); Consolation Final: 13. Hayet (3:50.55); 100 Fly - Championship Final: 5. Cox (46.79); 7. Brown (46.90); Consolation Final: 9. Mitchell (47.31); 12. Chierighini (47.68); 200 Free - Championship Final: 6. Grothe (1:35.51); Consolation Final: 9. Krug (1:36.01); 100 Breast - Championship Final: 2. Ferguson (53.23); 6. Klein (54.54); Consolation Final: 9. Manning (54.93); 100 Back - 1. Cox (45.72); 3. White (46.75); 6. Norys (47.13); 8. Murphy (47.26).