Feb. 18, 2016
Auburn's women's team will bring back 10 swimmers and the men's team will bring back nine as action rolled into the third day at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championship at the Mizzou Aquatic Center on Thursday morning.
Auburn's women will have one swimming in the Championship Final (Aly Tetzloff -- 100 fly), five in B Finals and four in C Finals. The Auburn men will have six in Championships finals -- two in every event -- along with one B Final and two C Final participants.
Auburn will bring back three swimmers in the women's 400 IM. Zoe Thatcher (4:14.51) and Annie Lazor (4:15.82) will each swim the B Final while Bailey Nero, who clocked a personal-best 4:17.07, will swim the C Final. Ashley Neidigh is the first alternate (4:18.03).
Joe Patching will have a chance to go after a second individual title at this meet as he takes the third-best time (3:45.12) into the 400 IM Championship Finals. Teammate Sam Stewart will also swim in the Championship Final after clocking a personal-best 3:45.33 in the morning. Jordan Jones (3:51.84) is in the C Final.
A total of five Auburn women will return in the 100 butterfly, led by Aly Tetzloff in the Championship Final after clocking a 52.44, which is the fifth-fastest in school history. Caroline Baddock (53.49) and Sarah Reynolds (53.50) will swim in the B Final while Alex Merritt (53.72) and Maddie Martin (53.87) are in the C Final.
Arthur Mendes (45.72) and Luis Martinez (46.22) will both swim in the Championship Final of the 100 fly and are seeded second and sixth, respectively. Mendes time is a personal-best and moves him from seventh to sixth on the school's top-10 list while Martinez' time is eighth-fastest in school history. Liam McCloskey, who also hit a personal-best at 46.80, will swim the B Final.
Jillian Vitarius will swim in the B Final of the women's 200 freestyle after swimming a 1:46.95. Erin Falconer touched in a personal-best 1:47.41 and will swim in the C Final.
Hugo Morris (1:34.31) and Peter Holoda (1:34.86) will both swim the Championship Final of the 200 freestyle. Holoda's time was a personal best and ranks eighth all-time in school history. Zach Apple will swim the C Final after clocking a personal-best 1:36.92.
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 400 IM
14. Zoe Thatcher -- 4:14.51
15. Annie Lazor -- 4:15.82
20. Bailey Nero -- 4:17.07
25. Ashley Neidigh -- 4:18.03
27. Kristen Murslack -- 4:18.49
Men's 400 IM
3. Joe Patching -- 3:45.12
5. Sam Stewart -- 3:45.33
21. Jordan Jones -- 3:51.84
32. Russell Noletto -- 3:56.93
Women's 100 Butterfly
8. Aly Tetzloff -- 52.44
T13. Caroline Baddock -- 53.49
15. Sarah Reynolds -- 53.50
17. Alex Merritt -- 53.72
24. Maddie Martin -- 53.87
37. Ashton Ellzey -- 54.72
Men's 100 Butterfly
2. Arthur Mendes -- 45.72
6. Luis Martinez -- 46.22
10. Liam McCloskey -- 46.80
34. Taylor Copeland -- 48.34
Women's 200 Freestyle
14. Jillian Vitarius -- 1:46.95
20. Erin Falconer -- 1:47.41
31. Shannon McKernan -- 1:48.34
37. McKenna DeBever -- 1:48.95
42. Jessica Hodgson -- 1:49.54
Men's 200 Freestyle
2. Hugo Morris -- 1:34.31
6. Peter Holoda -- 1:34.86
24. Zach Apple - 1:36.92
33. Joshua Booth -- 1:38.14
37. Grant Schenk -- 1:38.45
49. Alec Morris -- 1:40.71