Feb. 17, 2016
Auburn will bring back a total of 11 swimmers -- six of them in the A Finals -- in Wednesday's night's men's races at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. Auburn will have a total of five men swimming in the 200 IM finals, four in the 50 free finals and two the 500 free finals. Auburn's women will return seven swimmers.
Auburn will take up three of the eight lanes in the men's 200 IM championship final as Joe Patching qualified second (1:43.22), Jacob Molacek qualified fourth (1:44.55) and Michael Duderstadt swam a personal-best 1:44.65 to qualify sixth. His time places him 10th on Auburn's top 10 list in the event, knocking off Doug Van Wie and Mark Gangloff (1:44.69). Sam Stewart (1:46.59) and Tommy Brewer (1:46.80) will return for the B Final.
Auburn will bring back four swimmers for the men's 50 free, two of which will be in the Championship Final. Peter Holoda qualified third in 19.30, two spots ahead of Kyle Darmody (19.44). Zach Apple will be in the B Final after qualifying 13th in 19.81 and Ziv Kalontarov will swim in the C Final after touching in 20.07, tied for 22nd.
Hugo Morris will try to win his first SEC Championship in the men's 500 freestyle after swimming a 4:17.66, sixth-best of the morning. His brother, Alec Morris, will swim in the C Finals after clocking a 4:24.12.
Auburn holds a 19-point lead over Florida in the team race coming out of Tuesday's competition. Florida will return 13 swimmers to tonight's finals.
In the women's 500 freestyle, Ashley Neidigh (4:45.88), Zoe Thatcher (4:46.77) and Erin Falconer (4:47.50) will all return for the C Final. Neidigh is swimming in the C Final for the second straight year while Thatcher is advancing for the first time. Falconer's time was a personal-best by three full seconds.
Bailey Nero will be the only Auburn swimmer coming back for the 200 IM after touching in 1:59.67 to finish 24th.
Auburn will bring back three swimmers in the women's 50 free, with Ashton Ellzey (22.36) and Allyx Purcell (22.37) taking the top two times into the B Final. They will be joined by Aly Tetzloff, who qualified 16th (22.63).
The SEC Championships are being broadcast live on SEC Network+. A one-hour wrap-up show will air on ESPNU on March 2 at 3 p.m. (men's) and 4:30 p.m. (women's).
AUBURN PRELIMS FINISHES
Women's 500 Freestyle
17. Ashley Neidigh -- 4:45.88
22. Zoe Thatcher -- 4:46.77
23. Erin Falconer -- 4:47.50
Men's 500 Freestyle
6. Hugo Morris -- 4:17.66
21. Alec Morris -- 4:24.12
28. Russell Noletto -- 4:25.11
31. Grant Schenk -- 4:26.43
38. Luis Martinez -- 4:28.72
Women's 200 IM
24. Bailey Nero -- 1:59.67
32. Kristen Murslack -- 2:00.33
33. McKenna DeBever -- 2:00.39
48. Natasha Lloyd -- 2:02.44
70. Beatriz Travalon -- 2:08.79
Men's 200 IM
2. Joe Patching -- 1:43.22
4. Jacob Molacek -- 1:44.55
6. Michael Duderstadt -- 1:44.65
14. Sam Stewart -- 1:46.59
16. Tommy Brewer -- 1:46.80
26. Jordan Jones -- 1:48.22
Women's 50 Freestyle
9. Ashton Ellzey -- 22.36
10. Allyx Purcell -- 22.37
16. Aly Tetzloff -- 22.63
33. Shannon McKernan -- 23.47
Men's 50 Freestyle
3. Peter Holoda -- 19.30
5. Kyle Darmody -- 19.44
13. Zach Apple -- 19.81
T22. Ziv Kalontarov -- 20.07