Feb. 18, 2015
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn earned two silver and two bronze medals on the second day of the 2015 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center.
Both Auburn's men and women picked up a silver medal in the 200 freestyle relay. On the men's side, Jacob Molacek, Michael Duderstadt, Arthur Mendes and Kyle Darmody recorded the nation's second-best time of the year at 1:16.07.
The women's 200 freestyle relay of Megan Fonteno, Allyx Purcell, Ashton Ellzey and Valerie Hull wrapped up the night with a second-place finish, touching in at 1:28.05.
"I thought today was a well raced by our freshmen and sophomores. They are continuing to grow," Auburn head coach Brett Hawke said. "Our women have continued to show fight and grit to get back in striking distance. We're really proud of how everyone performed. As we move towards the rest of the week, we'll continue to improve and get better."
Joe Patching earned his first career individual SEC medal with a third-place finish in the 200 IM. The sophomore's time ranks as the second-best time in school history; only former Tiger George Bovell (1:42.66) has posted a quicker time in program history. Alex Hancock gave the Tigers key points with an eighth-place finish in the 200 IM championship final.
Molacek posted his best time of the year in the 200 IM consolation final, touching in at 1:43.71. The freshman's swim is now the fourth-fastest time by a Tiger in program history. Jordan Jones placed 15th overall with a 1:46.80.
In the men's 50 free, Darmody earned his second-consecutive bronze medal with a season-best time of 19.33, while Duderstadt went 19.70 to place seventh overall. Peter Holoda swam in the consolation final, swimming a 20.18 for 16th.
Purcell continued her climb up the Auburn record book in the 50 free, clocking a 22.02, a personal best, and the third-fastest mark in school history. Fonteno was second in the consolation final, just shy of breaking a personal record, collecting a 10th-place finish overall with a time of 22.42. Ellzey was 12th overall at 22.56, while Hull took 14th with a time of 22.62 in the B-final.
Hugo Morris scored for the Auburn men in the 500 free, placing 21st overall at 4:23.02. On the women's side, Ashley Neidigh took 22nd overall clocking a 4:48.32 in the C-final.
Carly Scheper was Auburn's top-finisher in the women's 1-meter competition, scoring 280.75 take 12th overall. Morgan Mullins was 18th overall with a six-dive list of 266.65.
Day three begins Thursday with prelims of the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 freestyle and men's 3-meter diving. Prelims will begin at 10 a.m. CT and day three finals are set to start at 6 p.m. Fans can watch both sessions on the SEC Network +.
For the latest updates on Auburn Swimming and Diving, follow the Tigers on Twitter, @AuburnSwimming or like Auburn Swimming and Diving on Facebook.
Auburn Swimming & Diving Results
2015 SEC Championships - Day Two Finals
February 18, 2015
James E. Martin Aquatics Center
Men's Team Scores: Georgia 421, Florida 391.5, Auburn 379, Tennessee 329.5, Alabama 311, Missouri 251, South Carolina 249, Texas A&M 222, LSU 189, Kentucky 169
Women's Team Scores: Georgia 436, Texas A&M 345, Florida 333, Tennessee 237, LSU 221, Auburn 178, Missouri 167, Kentucky 157, Arkansas 157, Alabama 132, South Carolina 125, Vanderbilt 60
Men's 500 Freestyle
21. Hugo Morris (4:23.02)
Women's 500 Freestyle
22. Ashley Neidigh (4:48.32)
Men's 200 IM
3. Joe Patching (1:43.16)
8. Alex Hancock (1:46.22)
9. Jacob Molacek (1:43.71)
15. Jordan Jones (1:46.80)
Men's 50 Freestyle
3. Kyle Darmody (19.33)
7. Michael Duderstadt (19.70)
16. Peter Holoda (20.18)
Women's 50 Freestyle
5. Allyx Purcell (22.02)
10. Megan Fonteno (22.47)
12. Ashton Ellzey (22.59)
14. Valerie Hull (22.62)
Women's 1-Meter Diving
12. Carly Scheper (280.75)
18. Morgan Mullins (266.65)
22. Cinzia Calabretta (256.55)
31. Shanna Schuelein (241.90)
Men's 200 Freestyle Relay
2. Molacek, Duderstadt, Mendes, Darmody (1:16.17)
Women's 200 Freestyle Relay
2. Fonteno, Purcell, Ellzey, Hull (1:28.05)
Auburn Notes (Day Two)
- Auburn's Jacob Molacek, Michael Duderstadt, Arthur Mendes and Kyle Darmody went 1:16.07 in the 200 free relay final - the second-fastest time in the country this season.
- Patching's third-place finish was the second-best time in Auburn history in the 200 IM. The sophomore is the first Tiger to take bronze in the 200 IM since Kyle Owens in 2013.
- Kyle Darmody earned his second-straight bronze medal in the 50 freestyle, placing third in 2014.
- Allyx Purcell's time of 22.02 is the third-best time in school history in the 50 free. Only Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (21.34) and Becky Short (21.88) have faster times. The sophomore's fifth-place finish is her best individual overall finish in an event at SECs.
- Jacob Molacek's 1:43.71 is a personal-best and fourth-best time in the 200 IM in school history.
- Auburn's streak of 12-straight SEC titles in the men's 200 freestyle relay was snapped Wednesday night.
- In the women's 200 free relay, Auburn earned silver with a time of 1:28.05, just .70 off the school record. The Tigers' second-place showing was its highest since 2011.