Feb. 19, 2011
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Junior Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace broke records in the 100 free and Auburn advanced 22 student-athletes to Saturday's finals at the conclusion of the preliminaries at the 2011 SEC Swimming Championships on the campus of the University of Florida.
"It's going to be close at the end of the night for the men," head coach Brett Hawke said. "Saturday is our toughest day and I'm anxious to see what happens during finals. We had some great swims from a handful of individuals."
Highlighting the morning was the women's 100 free as Vanderpool-Wallace had the whole crowd cheering when the Nassau, Bahamas, product put together the fastest swim in the NCAA...ever. Entering the preliminary session with the nation's fastest time this year of 47.44, she put that time to shame when she touched the wall in 46.81. That time broke an eight-year NCAA record of 47.00 held by Olympian Natalie Coughlin. It also broke Coughlin's four-year U.S. Open record of 46.85.
"It feels great to swim that fast," Vanderpool-Wallace said. "I wanted that record for so long. I kept looking at the records board in Auburn and knew I wanted my name up there. Now it's there and I'd like to keep it for a while."
Senior Caitlin Geary also advanced to the championship final of the 100 free, clocking the fifth-fastest time of 48.81. Sophomore Hannah Riordan and freshman Olivia Scott qualified for the consolation final as Riordan was ninth (49.02) and Scott was 11th (49.68).
The Auburn men had four reach the championship final of the 100 free with senior Adam Brown qualifying first in an NCAA "A" time of 42.26. Junior Karl Krug was third in a "B" time of 43.00, while freshman Marcelo Chierighini was fifth (43.13) and junior Drew Modrov was seventh (43.24). Freshman Chris Manning qualified for the consolation final with a "B" time of 43.70.
The Tigers had three men reach the championship final of the 200 back. Sophomore Kyle Owens had the second-fastest time of 1:42.01, while junior Max Murphy was third in 1:43.18. Senior Kohlton Norys came in sixth in 1:44.04. Senior Jared White reached the consolation final with the ninth-fastest time of 1:45.07.
Sophomore Stuart Ferguson and senior Adam Klein each had top-eight times in the 200 breast. Ferguson had the fourth-best time of 1:57.36, while Klein was fifth in 1:57.45. On the women's side, junior Micah Lawrence recorded the second-fastest time in the event of 2:10.64 for Auburn.
Senior Robert Looney put together a solid performance in the 200 fly and qualified seventh overall with a time of 1:45.99. Freshman Nimrod Hayet was 13th in the prelims (1:46.45) and senior Andrew Mitchell snuck in the consols with the 16th-fastest time of 1:46.76.
Freshman Emily Bos had the fifth-fastest time in the women's 200 back, touching in at 1:55.33. In the women's 200 fly, senior Melanie Roberts earned a spot in the consolation finals with a time of 2:00.86.
Saturday's finals kick off at 6 p.m. ET from the Stephen C. O'Connell Center with the 1,650 free, following with the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and 400 free relay. Live results and live streaming are available at www.gatorzone.com.
Auburn Swimming and Diving
2010 SEC Swimming Championships - Day Four Preliminaries
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Stephen C. O'Connell Center; Gainesville, Fla.
Auburn Top Finishers - Women: 200 Back - Championship Final: 5. Bos (1:55.3); 100 Free - Championship Final: 1. Vanderpool-Wallace (46.81); 5. Geary (48.81); Consolation Final: 9. Riordan (49.02); 11. Scott (49.68); 200 Breast - Championship Final: 2. Lawrence (2:10.64); 200 Fly - Consolation Final: 16. Roberts (2:00.86).
Men: 200 Back - Championship Final: 2. Owens (1:42.01); 3. Murphy (1:43.18); 6. Norys (1:44.04); Consolation Final: 9. White (1:45.07); 100 Free - Championship Final: 1. Brown (42.26); 3. Krug (43.00); 5. Chierighini (43.13); 7. Modrov (43.24); Consolation Final: 10. Manning (43.70); 200 Breast - 4. Ferguson (1:57.36); 5. Klein (1:57.45); 200 Fly - Championship Final: 7. Looney (1:45.99); Consolation Final: 13. Hayet (1:46.35); 16. Mitchell (1:46.76).